Shirley A. Hays, age 69, of Gouverneur, passed away on August 21, 2010 following a car accident on US Hwy. 11.

Calling hours will be at French Funeral Home, Gouverneur on Wednesday from 5 - 8 p.m. Her funeral service will be on Thursday, August 26th at 10 a.m. at the funeral home with Father Stephen Rocker officiating. Burial will follow in the St. James Cemetery, Gouverneur.

Shirley was born on December 25, 1940 in Gouverneur to Clarence M. “Jim” and Mary E. (Davis) Besaw. She attended Gouverneur Central School. Shirley married James Leonard Hays on January 13, 1958 at the St. James Church with Msg. Lyng officiating. Leonard passed away on August 29, 2007.

Shirley worked at Ames Department Store as an electronics department clerk for 25 years. She had previously worked for the Gouverneur Tribune Press for several years. Shirley is a communicant of the St. James Catholic Church and she enjoyed being with her grandchildren and her family. She was also an avid collector of owl figurines and porcelain dolls.

Shirley is survived by two sons and a daughter-in-law, Michael J. and Debra Hays and Mitchell L. Hays and his companion Penny Card all of Gouverneur; three brothers and their wives, Henry A. and Ruby Besaw, Stanley D. and Stephanie Besaw and Wesley J. and Donna Besaw all of Gouverneur; a sister and her companion, Joyce A. Besaw and Dave Mayhew of Gouverneur; and three grandchildren and three great grandchildren.

Shirley is predeceased by her husband, James Leonard Hays, a daughter Cheryl “Sherry” Y. Hays who died on June 29, 2005, a sister Betty Jane Besaw who died in infancy and a great granddaughter, Angela R. Scott who also died in the car accident that claimed Shirley’s life.

Donations may be made in Shirley’s memory to the Gouverneur Volunteer Fire Department or the Gouverneur Volunteer Rescue Squad.