obituaries

William Hays

Bethalto |

William “Bill” Edward Hays, 69, passed away at 7:16 pm Tuesday, October 21, 2014 at Alton Memorial Hospital surrounded by family and friends.

He was born on December 12, 1944 in Saint Louis, MO, the son of Clarence and Iva Lucille (Wall) Hays.

Bill married Elsie M. Bollinger on December 11, 1971 at the Bethalto 1st Baptist Church. She survives. 

He served his country in the U.S. Army Reserves from 1965 to 1971.  He started at the Bethalto Police Department as a police officer in 1968, retiring in 1989 as a Sergeant.  He moved his family to Las Vegas and worked in security at Circus Circus until 1997 when he returned to the Bethalto Police Department as a Major.  In 1999 he was promoted to Chief of Police with the Bethalto Police Department until he retired in 2005.  He was a member of the Madison County Police Association and on the Board of Directors of the Bethalto Boys and Girls Club for many years.  He enjoyed playing poker and card games with his friends, taking vacations with his family and holding his awesome grandson, Camden.

He is survived by his wife, Elsie Hays, a son and daughter-in-law, Todd and Ashley Hays of Troy, IL; a grandson, Camden Edward Hays; two sisters and a brother-in-law, Rebecca Walkington of Denver, CO and Glenda and Don Boan of Phoenix, AZ; his in-laws, Gary and Donna Bollinger of Cottage Hills, Roger and Barb Bollinger of Houston, TX, Vickie Kelly of Bethalto and Diane and Mark Fielder of Bethalto, a sister-in-law, Mary Sue Burnett of Bethalto and a step brother and his wife, Jerry and Rosalie Burnett of NY and his nieces and nephews and their spouses, Brian Bollinger, Brad and Kristyn Bollinger, Brent Bollinger, Chris and Jen Bollinger, Kelly and Tim Lively, Kyle and Kim Bollinger, Chris and Michelle Borror, Scott and Missy Borror and Billie and Bud Carr.

He is preceded in death by his parents, a brother, Ken Burnett and a brother-in-law, Dennis Kelly.

Visitation will be from 1 to 5 pm Saturday, October 25, 2014 at Elias, Kallal and Schaaf Funeral Home in Bethalto.

Funeral services will be at 1:00 pm Sunday, October 26, 2014 at the funeral home with Pastor Ed Smith officiating with military rites given by Alton VFW Post 1308.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Backstoppers.

Online condolences and guestbook may be found at www.eliaskallalandschaaf.com


Obit Provided By:
Elias, Kallal & Schaaf Funeral Home

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