Obituary of Laura Sexton Buchanan Hays Matthews

Laura Sexton Buchanan Hays Matthews, formerly of Marion, passed away on Wednesday, December 2, 2015 in Monticello, Indiana. She was born on April 5, 1929 in Broadford, Virginia. She is the daughter of the late Florence Virginia Buchanan and Graham Sullivan Buchanan, Sr. She was preceded in death by her siblings, Graham Sullivan Buchanan, Jr. (Beth), Thomas Wiley Buchanan (Margaret), Virginia Wright Buchanan, and David Cox Buchanan, Sr. (Anne). On June 21, 1952 she married George Fulton Hays, Sr. He passed away on August 6, 1984. On September 30, 1989, she married James Aubrey Matthews and he passed away on October 18, 2007. She is survived by her four children, Laura Elizabeth (Betsy) Hays Bossaer (Greg), of Reynolds, Indiana, Robert James Hays (Joan) of Kentland, Indiana, George Fulton Hays, Jr. (Tamara) of Fort Wayne, Indiana, and David Huffard Hays (Lori) of Downingtown, PA. She is also survived by her nine grandchildren, John Buchanan Bossaer (Larissa) of Johnson City, TN, Laura Virginia Robbins (Kyle) of Kentland, IN, Casey Hays Ward (Damon) of Kentland, IN, Robert Costigan Hays of Indianapolis, IN, Ali O’Neil Hays of Royal Oaks, MI, Shannon Eileen Hays of Downingtown, PA, Anne Caroline Hays of Downingtown, PA, Calvin James Hays of Downingtown, and Sydney Rose Hays of Fort Wayne, IN. She is also survived by three great-grandchildren, Lillian Noelle Bossaer and Eliza Beatrice Bossaer, both of Johnson City, TN, and Jackson James Ward of Kentland, IN. She is also survived by several nieces and nephews. Laura was a graduate of Rich Valley High School in Saltville, Virginia, and Marion and Longwood Colleges with a BS in Business Education. She was a high school business teacher for many years. She was one of the first women to serve on the Smyth County School Board. She spearheaded and organized a large reunion of Rich Valley High School Alumni upon the closing of the school. She loved playing bridge and being with her family. She was a member of Tri Kappa, a Girl Scout Leader, and was one of the first woman elders in the Rich Valley Presbyterian Church. Even though Laura lived in several different states, Rich Valley was always “home.” Visitation will be from 6-8 pm at Seaver-Brown Funeral Home in Marion, VA, on Sunday evening, December 6, and the funeral will be at 11 am on Monday, December 7 at the Rich Valley Presbyterian Church in Saltville, VA. She will be buried in the Rich Valley Presbyterian Church Cemetery. The service will be conducted by Reverend Andrew Parky. In lieu of flowers, friends may consider a memorial to the Rich Valley Presbyterian Church, 3783 Valley Road, Saltville, VA 24370-1465. Expressions of sympathy may be made to the family at www.seaverbrown.com. Seaver-Brown Funeral Service and Crematory is honored to serve the Matthews Family.