Mervin Mitchel Hays

      Mervin was born in Chapman, Dickinson Co, KS, on Aug 7, 1914. He was born at 7:40 am. According to the birth certificate, the given name is Mervin Mitcher Hays, apparently a mistake in recording the middle name, which was intended to be Mitchel. There is a notation "Given name added from supplemental report Dec. 6, 1916" initialed by a Registrar; this may explain the error. This was the fourth child born to Effie and all four were living at the time. Dr. Greenlee was the attending physician..^5,2,6,4,7
     
     
     Mervin Mitchel Hays was listed as a son in Orice Lee Hays's household on the 1920 Census in Junction City, Geary Co, KS.⁸
     Mervin Mitchel Hays attended in 1922 in Brookside School, Smoky Hill Township, Geary Co, KS. Clarence was in 5th grade, Verda in 4th, Lowell and Mervin in 2nd.⁹ He was listed on the roll as a student in Moonlight School, Hays Township, Dickinson Co, KS, in 1925.¹⁰
     
     Mervin Mitchel Hays was listed as a son in Lee Hays's household on the 1930 Census in 401 East Republic, Salina, Saline Co, KS.⁴
     Mervin Mitchel Hays, Lee Hays's child, resided with Lee, in Chapman, Dickinson Co, KS, on Jan 2, 1936.¹
     He married Ruth Julia Martina Youngberg in the home of Rev. Arend, Clay Center, Clay Co, KS, on Sep 9, 1936. According to Ruth Hays "We were married at Clay Center, Kansas at noon. We were quietly married at the home of Rev. Arend with Mrs. Alice Neel, Francis Neel Ida Armstrong & Charles Armstrong the only ones present and the only guests of our wedding party.".^11,12,7 He and Ruth honeymooned in South Dakota, Minnesota, MI, October 31, 1936 to January 1.¹²
     
     Mervin and Ruth lived on Sep 13, 1937 in 1220 North 7th, Salina, Saline Co, KS.¹³
     
     
     Mervin was listed as the head of a family on the 1940 Census in 1316 Gypsum Avenue, Salina, Saline Co, KS. The family was renting a house for $15 per month. Mervin was working in "form building" for a bridge construction company. He had worked 47 weeks in 1939, earning $532. Ruth was a housewife. Mervin had completed one year of high school, and Ruth had completed two years of college..⁷
     He resided in Salina, Saline Co, KS, on Jun 27, 1940, in 1316 Gypsum.¹⁴
     
     He resided in Hutchinson, Reno Co, KS, on Jan 13, 1943, in 512 E. 7th Street.¹⁵
     He became a partner in Neel Awning Company between 1943 and 1949.¹⁶
     Mervin Mitchel Hays was given a preinduction physical examination on Apr 15, 1945 in Salina, Saline Co, KS, and found physically fit, acceptable for general military service.¹⁷
     He resided in Hutchinson, Reno Co, KS, on Oct 25, 1945.¹⁸
     The Hays family gathered at Jim and Margie's house in Hutchinson in February 1946.
     Mervin was paid $801.41 in wages in 1948 by Frank Fessler, 339 W. Jewell, Salina, KS. $2.10 was withheld.¹⁹
     Mervin was paid $1,481.48 in wages in 1948 by King-Michaelsen, Inc. 1908 So. Broadway, Wichita 11, KS. $7.00 was withheld.²⁰
     They resided in Salina, Saline Co, KS, in May, 1949.¹¹
     
     
     
     Mervin died on Nov 28, 1969 in the ambulance en route to hospital, Salina, Saline Co, KS, at age 55; the cause of death was a heart attack brought on by ALS.^5,21,6 An obituary was published on Nov 28, 1969 in The Salina Journal in Salina, Saline Co, KS.⁵ He was buried in Dec, 1969 at Roselawn Cemetery, in Salina, Saline Co, in KS.²¹