Virginia Elaine “Ginger” Hays, 84, of Monmouth, IL, passed away at 8:45 p.m. Sunday, July 3, 2022 at home with her family by her side.
She was born May 22, 1938 in Aledo, IL, the daughter of Robert and Gertrude Eileen (Stearns) Hays. She was raised and educated in Bay Island, New Boston, IL, graduating from Joy High School. She later attended Carl Sandburg College, Galesburg, IL and Parkland Community College in Champaign, IL.
Ginger shared her life with her husband, Cliff Gipson, for the last 22 years and he survives.
Ginger was an interior decorator for 13 years; business manager in car dealership & trainer for business managers for 6 years; realtor at Trader’s Realty, Peoria, IL for 4 years. She became disabled in 1994. She taught classes for the family and friends of mentally ill individuals for the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI). She started sewing when she was 8 years old and became a very accomplished seamstress. She loved to do needlework and made beautiful wedding ring quilts. She also liked to play golf and dance until her health limited her activity. Ginger was not a frequent church attendee but was raised to be a very loving, kind and generous person. Her parents taught her that being a Christian is more than attending church on Sunday; it is something that is done every day, every week, every month, every year.
She was a past member of the First United Methodist Church of Keithsburg, New Boston, Monmouth and Tuscola; past member of the Toluca Lutheran Church, Toluca, IL; past member of the National Association of Realtors and the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI).
Surviving Ginger are her sons, Mark (Donna) McCaw of Macomb, Mitchell (Valerie) McCaw of Toluca, Martin Todd (Brenda) McCaw of Burleson, TX; grandchildren, Sara (Larry) Rigg of Macomb, Misty (Aaron) Wilson of Wenona, Dusty McCaw and Dylan McCaw of Toluca and Jami Thomas of Ft. Worth, TX; great-grandchildren, Alec Thomas of Burleson, TX, Cason Wilson, Emma and Abbie Rigg; sister-in-law, Doris Hays. Many nieces and nephews also survive.
She was preceded in death by her parents, brother Bob Hays, sister Ann Cox and her husband Charles; sister, Vicki Loren; special cousin, Gene Hays and her cherished kitties, Gabriel, Adam, Noah and Nathan.
Funeral services will be held in the New Boston United Methodist Church, New Boston, IL, at 11:00 am Thursday, July 7, 2022. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service. Interment will take place in the New Boston Cemetery. In Lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Western Illinois Animal Rescue or the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill and left in the care of the funeral home. Wise Family Funeral Home, Alexis, is handling the arrangements. For more information or to leave an online condolence please visit our website at www.wisefamilyfuneralhome.com.
