Betty L. Hayes, 91, of Rockford, Ohio, died at 4:51 a.m. on Thursday, June 23, 2016 at the Laurels of Shane Hill in Rockford, where she was a patient.

Betty was the daughter of Charles and Ella (Stickle) Karnehm and was born on August 1, 1924 in Miami County, Ohio, near Piqua. She had lived in Rockford for the past 69 years. She married Forrest E. "Bud" Hayes on September 8, 1948, and he preceded in death on June 5, 2011.

Betty was not only a homemaker, but worked beside Bud in the fields. She helped bale straw, milked the cows, and made dinners for the men in the fields.

She was a member of the Mercer County Farm Bureau Council for many years. She was a member of the Olive Branch Church of God in rural Rockford, where she was a very faithful and active member: she was a Sunday School teacher for many years, a member of the WCSC, a deaconess at the church, and a volunteer at Bible School, where she was nicknamed the "Cookie Lady", as she baked so many cookies for the children.

She was known for her pie baking, especially for her peach pies. She also was a cook for many years at the Rockford School.

Surviving are three children: Craig (Heidi) Hayes of Phoenix, Arizona; Deb (Steve) Knapke of Rockford, Ohio, and Curtis "Pete" (Twyla) Hayes, also of Rockford. Betty had eleven grandchildren: Kelly Hayes, Scott Hayes, Jason Hayes, Jeremy (Tonya) Hayes, Jared Hayes, Nicholas (Elizabeth) Hayes, Ethan (Rachel) Hayes, Dusty (Melissa) Knapke, Darin Knapke, Danny Knapke, and Dee Dee Knapke; and four great grandchildren: Kara Knapke, Kurtis Knapke, Hudson Hayes, and Hallie Hayes. A sister-in-law, Margaret (Jerry) Baucher also survives in Celina, Ohio.

Deceased in addition to her parents and husband are three brothers and five sisters: Alvin, Foster, and Howard Karnehm, Esther Leffel, Bertha McGraw, Laura Weatherhead, Dorothy Burnside, and Florence Richie.

Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, June 27, 2016, at Olive Branch Church of God, north of Rockford on St. Rte. 118, with Pastor Steve Waterman officiating. Burial will follow in Mount Olive Cemetery, St. Rte. 117, Rockford, Ohio.

Friends may call on Sunday from 4:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m. at Ketcham-Ripley Funeral Home in Rockford, and on Monday, at the church, one hour prior to the service.

Memorials may be directed to the church.

Condolences may be expressed at ketchamripley.com.