On September 24, 2024, God took Mrs. Reverta Hays home to heaven. She was born on September 28, 1929 to Gus and Eva (Kirkpatrick) Ray in Diehlstadt, Mo.  She was a 21-year resident of Poplar Bluff, Mo., having previously lived in Stroudsburg, Penn., O'Fallon, Ill. and St. Louis, Mo. with her husband of 64 years, Ray Hays. She was a former member of First Baptist Church of O'Fallon, Ill., Beakleyville Baptist Church in East Stroudsburg, Penn. and Westwood Baptist Church in Poplar Bluff, Mo.

Her greatest passion was playing the piano since she was 4 years old.  During her lifetime she played for churches, youth choirs, and senior adult choirs. But her greatest joy was playing for her family's Southern Gospel quartet, The Ray Harmony Quartet, and her 3 children's trio. She enjoyed spending time with family and friends.

Reverta was preceded in death by her husband, Raymond L. Hays; parents, Gus and Eva Ray; brothers, Logan Ray of Potosi, Mo. and Charles Ray of Mtn. Grove, Mo.; sisters, Freida Ray of St. Louis, Mo. and Rosilea (Tomlinson) Kline of Poplar Bluff, Mo., who, upon her passing, were able to see her again as she walked through the gates of heaven.

She leaves surviving her daughter, Rhonda (Frank) Tempia of Belleville, Ill.; son, Dwight (Jody) Hays of Sanford, Fla.; and daughter, Barbara Cramer of Fairview Heights, Ill.; grandchildren, Nicole (Chris) Colbert of Colorado Springs, Colo., Bradley (Elsa) Tempia of Colorado Springs, Colo., Amy (John) Wagner of Lebanon, Tenn., Jason (Teena) Hays of Sevierville, Tenn., Kelly Azpurua of Knoxville, Tenn., Nathan (Leta) Cramer of Poplar Bluff, Mo., Tracee Cramer of Shiloh, Ill. and Stephan (Sara) Cramer of O'Fallon, Ill.;  23 great-grandchildren; 3 great-great-grandchildren; a host of brothers & sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews; and countless friends.

"Ms. Reverta" was a mother and grandmother figure to many people in her life. Everyone loved her.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to Westwood Baptist Academy, 419 CR 5231, Poplar Bluff, MO, 63901 OR go to www.wbcpb.com , click "online giving," choose "other," then enter "in Memory of Reverta Hays."

The visitation will be from 9:30-11:00 a.m., Saturday, October 12, 2024 with the funeral following at 11:00 a.m. at Wolfersberger Funeral Home, 102 W. Washington St., O'Fallon, Ill. Pastors Doug Munton and Steve Proctor will officiate.

On Friday, October 18, 2024, at 2:00 p.m., Reverta's earthly body will be laid to rest with her husband's at Missouri State Veteran's Cemetery in Bloomfield, Mo.