Howard Lynn Hays

Howard Lynn Hays passed away on August 2, 2025 surrounded by loved ones at the family home in Pulaski, Tennessee. He was 93 years old. Howard was born in Las Vegas, New Mexico on April 25, 1932 to George Fred Hays and Ora Fay Morrow. Howard started his early years as a true cowboy. In high school he was able to pursue his passion in ranching with Livestock Judging. His team won 1st place in the New Mexico Livestock Judging. They then went on to win 2nd place in the National Finals. As a young man he worked on several large ranches in New Mexico… the Cruz Ranch which encompassed around 30,000 acres and the Chapman Ranch encompassed around 150,000 acres. He was issued four horses and everything he did was done off the back of a horse. Howard became a family man when he married Donna Jean (Gerdeman) of Las Vegas in 1951 they were married for 21 years. He was encouraged by his father-in-law, Alvin Gerdeman, president and owner of the Las Vegas Savings Bank to take up a trade in plumbing. After learning the trade Howard was able to start his own commercial plumbing business in 1964, Hays Plumbing & Heating in Las Vegas but he always missed his days as a cowboy. Howard came to Tennessee to visit old friends and fell in love with the country so he bought a small 300 acre farm south of Pulaski in 1973 and started to raise cattle once again in hopes to go back to cattle ranching. God had other plans for Howard when he fell on hard times in the cattle ranching business. He reverted back to his skills of being a mechanical contractor in commercial plumbing. He started another Hays Plumbing & Heating in Tennessee and did all the plumbing for the Maury Regional Hospital and numerous other new medical buildings throughout Tennessee. Howard was still able to pursue his love as a cattleman but as a side venture. Howard met Linda Chapman and married in 1976. They were married for 42 years and both had a love for the critters and the farm. Howard was preceded in death by his wife, Linda, parents Fred and Fay Hays, his half-brother’s Earl and Bobby Manlove, and brother Teet Hays. Howard is survived by his three children, son Bill (Kathy) of Grand Junction, Colorado, daughter JaneEllen (Marty) Mallette of Las Vegas, New Mexico, son Alan of Pulaski, Tennessee. Grandchildren, Jennifer, Cody, Tesha Dawn, and Shea. Great-grandchildren, McKayla, Matthew, Morgan, Hadleigh, and Brynleigh. Visitation will be held Monday, August 11, 2025 from 4-7pm, with the funeral services Tuesday, August 12th at 11am, at the Bennett-May Funeral Home in Pulaski, Tennessee. Pallbearers will be Joey Dickey, John Dickey, David Merritt, Eddie Petty, Tony Townsend, and Larry Gulley. Arrangements are entrusted to and under the care of Bennett-May Funeral Home, 1910 Elkton Pike, Pulaski, Tennessee 38478 931-363-0828.

Howard Lynn Hays

April 25, 1932 - August 2, 2025