Mildred Martha (Lucas) Hayden, Formerly Of Ceresco, Mi

Mildred Martha (Lucas) Hayden of Jackson, MI and formerly of Ceresco, MI


Mildred, age 97, died peacefully in her sleep early Tuesday morning, October 13, 2015 at the home of her granddaughter, Andrea, under her loving care.

Mildred, the daughter of Raymond and Elsie (Buck) Lucas, was born in Marcellus, MI on October 27, 1917; was a 1935 graduate of Marcellus High School, where she was Valedictorian of her class, and furthered her education in the nursing field at Nichols Community Hospital in Battle Creek, MI. She had been an Operating Room Nurse for many years and went to part-time duty after the children were born. Mildred finally retired in 1970 as a private practice nurse for Dr. A.M. Giddings. She had been a member of the First United Methodist Church of Battle Creek, its United Methodist Women Club and its Sunrise Circle; she had been a former member of the Christ United Methodist Church of Urbandale and its Unity Circle and held various offices at both the local and district levels for the United Methodist Church, including District President for many years. Mildred was a member of N.A.R.F.E. and a member of the Nichols Alumni Association. She had many dear friends that she met through nurses' training and her involvement with the church. She cherished those friendships. She and her loving husband, Franklin, enjoyed their small farm, horses and ponies. She enjoyed riding in the wagon in parades with Franklin and attending many fairs where he showed the ponies. She also enjoyed sewing, gardening, tending to her raspberry patch, cooking and baking and no one baked a tastier raspberry pie, but her passion in life was always her family and her greatest joy was caring for her children and grandchildren. Her friends and family loved her quick wit, spunky personality and one liners.

Mildred was united in marriage to Franklin J. Hayden in Byron, OH on July 29, 1941 and he sadly preceded her in death on July 11, 2005 after 64 years of wedded bliss. Surviving is her daughter, Janice A. Roschek of Pentwater, MI; her son, Ronald J. Hayden of Battle Creek; five grandchildren; Timothy (Jani) Hayden of South Lyon, MI, Christopher Roschek of Boynton Beach, FL, Monica (Troy) Kelley of Round Rock, TX, Andrea (Mike) Wilcox of Jackson, MI, Karey (Mike) Ford of Pheonix, AZ, nine precious great grandchildren; Carlye and Chloe Hayden, Luanu Roschek, Kruze and Lilah Kelley, Alana, Luke and Ella Wilcox and Mikayla Ford; two brothers, Dale (Lois) Lucas and Paul (Bette) Lucas, both of Constantine, MI and several nieces and nephews. Mildred was also preceded in death by her parents; two sisters, Margaret Freed and Ruth Proctor and a brother, Rex Lucas.

The Funeral Service to celebrate Mildred's life will be held on Tuesday, October 20th at 2:00 p.m. in the Farley Estes Dowdle Funeral Home & Cremation Care, Battle Creek with the Rev. Richard "Rick" Brooks, Chaplain of Allegiance Hospice of Jackson, MI, officiating. Mildred's family will greet friends from 1:00 p.m. until service time at the funeral home. Interment will follow in Floral Lawn Memory Gardens, Battle Creek. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Mildred's honor may be directed to Allegiance Hospice, One Jackson Square, 4th Floor, Jackson, MI 49201.