Obituary of Arthur W. Hayes

Mr. Arthur W. Hayes, 92 years old passed away on Monday, April 11, 2011 at his home on State Highway 162 in Sprakers, NY following a long illness. Mr. Hayes was born in Hoboken, NJ on October 4, 1918 and was the son of Michael Hayes and Mary Flynn Hayes. Arthur graduated from Rutgers University in 1940 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Chemistry. He worked for 36 years for American Smelting & Refining Company in Perth Amboy, NJ as the chief chemist. He also worked as a farmer who raised sheep, beef and hay on his 90 acre farm which he and his wife bought in 1950 in New Jersey. He was a Director of New Jersey State Wool Pool. In 1976, Arthur retired from the American Smelting Refining Company and moved to Sprakers, NY where his family resided. Arthur continued to sheep farm until recently. Arthur lived previous in Bridgewater, New Jersey. He was a former member of St. Bernard's Catholic Church, Raratin, NJ and former member of St. Peter & Paul's Catholic Church, Canajoharie, NY. On August 29, 1940 Arthur married Hilde Schafft at Our Lady of Grace, Hoboken, NJ and she predeceased him on February 11, 1990. Survivors include two daughters: Eileen Stitt, Crown City, OH, Kathleen Harris, Sprakers, NY, 2 sons: James Hayes, Warnerville, NY and Thomas Hayes, Sprakers, NY. Step-mother-in-law: Margot Schafft, Colonia, NJ and sister-in-law: Lillian Schafft, Esmont, VA., 9 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great-grandchild. The family will receive relatives and friends on Friday, April 15, 2011 from 6-8 PM at Houghtaling & Smith Funeral Home, Inc., 20 Otsego St., Canajoharie, NY. A funeral service will be conducted on Saturday, April 16, 2011 at 10 AM at the St. John's & St. Mark's Lutheran Church, Canajoharie, NY. Pastor Zachary R. Labagh will be officiating. Burial will take place at Sts. Peter & Paul's Cemetery, Canajoharie, NY at a later time.