Jewell Naomi Barefield Hayes
Jewell Naomi Barefield Hayes who loved life lost hers July 3rd, 2023. Jewell was born March 7th, 1936, at home in Millen, Georgia. She grew up a sharecropper’s daughter. Boasting she could pick as much cotton as her father Mears Daniel Barefield, she was proud of her heritage. Her mother Leila raised four children. Jewell was the oldest. She had two sisters; Evelyn (Doris) and Miriam. Her beloved baby brother Hubert, everyone called “Buddy” but Jewell always called him “Man.”
Jewell was very proud of the RT initials after her name. She earned her Radiation Technologist title in GA. In the early 1960’s Jewell moved to Cobleskill, NY where she continued making her living as an X-Ray Tech. During her days off she enjoyed driving around New York in her Nash Metropolitan taking in the beauty of the hills. One day she picked up two hitchhikers who wanted to go to the Rock Inn in Mount Upton, NY. (We are still not sure how three people fit in one of those little cars?) John Hayes was tending bar there. He asked her out to dinner. A short time later she married what she called “the most eligible bachelor in Chenango County.” They raised Jack, Jim and Jonie. They were married for over 50 years.
During the time when her children were young Jewell was involved in many different organizations and was an avid volunteer of the annual Bainbridge General Clinton Canoe Regatta. She earned the distinguished honor of Silver Beaver being a Girl Scout and Boy Scout Leader for many younger people. She reported for the Tri-Town News, belonged to the Historical Society and was on the Mount Upton Central School board of Education to name a few. In the 1970’s her advocacy kept the in-famous dam from being built in her town. After her youngest child left for college, Jewell went ‘back to work’. She was very proud to have kept her RT license and knowledge current over those child-raising years. The Sidney Hospital relied on her as she was a very valuable part of their emergency room. She loved being back and continued working as an X-Ray Tech until she was 78 years old.
Jewell loved nature especially her song birds which without fail she kept fed for decades. She always enjoyed being in their presence. Often times, Jewell could be found sitting out back in her pavilion, even in the winter getting her Vitamin D. Her family would laugh when she told them every summer “This is the last flower basket I am going to buy this year”. People would stop and wonder if her home was a nursery there were so many flowers! She was an amazing baker and filled many a church dinner with her delicious pies.
Over the years Jewell would frequently take a station wagon full of neighborhood children to the YMCA in Norwich. Later, she continued visiting there with her grandchildren for free swim and fun. But in the late 80’s Jewell joined the Y and went there every weekday. She enjoyed water aerobics classes until the morning she died. She met many fellow water lovers there that she referred to as her “pool friends”.
Jewell was very active right until the end, mowing her own lawn with a zero-turn mower and telling people “It’s more fun than a go-kart”, to doing her own laundry which was in the cellar of her house. When approached by her sons to possibly move the washer and dryer up to the main floor, her response was “No, no, no, no, no!”
Jewell would always take the “long way back home” to look at the scenery or visit a bakery to feed her sweet tooth. She loved getting groceries at Weavers. She always emphasized the importance of supporting your local farmers and business. The front room at Judy’s Diner in Mt Upton was a second home to Jewell. A place where many friends and family came to visit and eat with her. They did not dare pick up the check!
Anyone who knew Jewell knew she loved and lived life to the fullest.
There will be no funeral service, instead of donations, call a friend and take them to lunch!
She was predeceased by: her parents, Mears Daniel (Buck) and Leila Barefield; her husband, John Hern Hayes; sister, Evelyn Doris and grandson, Ryan James (Buzz) Hayes.
Jewell leaves behind: brother, Hubert Buddy Barefield (Angie); sister, Miriam Sanders; son, Jack Hern Hayes (Suzette); grandson, Brett Hayes (Laurel); granddaughter, Jenna Buttice (Brooks); great-grandchildren: Brady, Hadley, Emerson and Brandt Buttice; grandson, Eric Loitsch (Ashley); great-grandchildren: Luke, Sawyer, Gianna and Mila Loitsch; granddaughter, Andrea Card (Noel); grandson, Michael Loitsch (Chelsea); great-grandchildren: Lucy and Cedar Loitsch; son, Jim Hayes; granddaughter, Ashleigh Bishop (Coty); great-grandchildren, Kadyn and Madisyn Bishop; granddaughter, Megan Hayes; and daughter, Jonie Hayes.
Share condolences and memories with the family online at www.landersfh.com. Arrangements are under the direction of C.H. Landers Funeral Chapel, Sidney.