Judith “Judy” Bishton Hayes, age 83, a longtime resident of Earlville, passed away February 5, 2022 at Albany Medical Center after a brief illness. She was born May 20,1938, in Utica, NY to Frederick and Elizabeth (Wheeler) Bishton of Syracuse. In 1956 She graduated from Nottingham High School in Syracuse.
Judy returned to work as her youngest child entered kindergarten. She was employed by the Cornell Mastitis Laboratory in Earlville for over 20 years. After the Lab closed in 1991, she worked at BOCES and later retired to enjoy her quilting.
Judy was an avid quilter and longtime member of the Girl Gang Club at Tiger Lily Quilt Co. Her quilts were displayed at Auburn’s Schweinfurth Art Center and other various quilt shows throughout the years. Her favorite styles were traditional and primitive. She made quilts and wall hangings to decorate her home and gifted many to her loved ones.
She was a member of the Earlville Knitting Group and was currently in the process of knitting a baby blanket for a new step great grandchild. Always active in her retirement, she previously had been a volunteer for the RSVP program, taught exercise classes to seniors as part of the Bone Builders Group and was an Earlville Free Library board member.
On June 10, 2014 Judy was the recipient of a successful kidney transplant (Rosie). Each year she celebrated the anniversary.
On November 15, 1996 she married Dr. Gerald “Gerry” L. Hayes in Norwich who survives her. She is also survived by her sons Michael Seymour (Gail), Gary Seymour, daughter Kathleen Seymour, granddaughters Jennifer and Katie, 2 great-grandchildren. In addition to stepchildren Daniel Hayes, Barbara (John) Taverne, Mark (Lauralee) Hayes, Constance Hayes, 9 step grandchildren, and 5 step great grandchildren, and 1 step great- great-grandson.
Memorial services will be held at Burgess & Tedesco Funeral Homes, 3 Preston St., Earlville on February 26, 2022 at 2 pm. There will be no calling hours.
Contributions in her memory may be made to the Earlville Free Library or the National Kidney Foundation.
To send a condolence and sign the Book of Memories online go to www.burgessandtedescofuneralhomes.com