John Hays Obituary

Services celebrating the life of J.B. will be held on Friday, October 17, 2025 at the Presbyterian
Church in Torrington, WY.
J.B. was born on March 13, 1948, at Goshen County Hospital to James and Mollie (Garrett) Hays
of Torrington. J.B. was the only child of the couple, and he was quite an accomplished in both
academics and athletics. He even earned the best all-around athlete in his Torrington High
School graduating class of 1966. J.B. earned appointments to several military academies and a
full-ride football scholarship to the University of Wyoming.
J.B. chose to accept the appointment to the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, CO., where
he also played catcher on their baseball team. However, after a year of service J.B. chose a
different path. J.B. finished his Bachelors of Science degree in Earth Science at Chadron State
College in Chadron, NE. J.B. also earned a temporary teaching certificate.
After college at Chadron State, J.B. married Nancy Cunnigham of Guernsey, WY., and the couple
both taught at the Prairie Center Country School where J.B. also acted as principal of the small
school. After a year, J.B. and Nancy moved to Tucson, AZ., where J.B worked on a Master's
Degree at the University of Arizona. However, the growing family had to move back to
Wyoming before J.B. was able to finish his degree.
J.B. began a career of selling insurance in Torrington. That career moved the family to Cheyenne
for an eight-year period before returning to Torrington. J.B. eventually left the insurance field
and held several different positions before serving as a window clerk at the Torrington Post
Office where he retired after several years of service.
J.B. held his family at the center of everything he did. He enjoyed sports, music, travel and
spending any time he could with the ones he loved. He was involved in the community by
refereeing junior high and high school sports throughout the valley and beyond. J.B. was a
member of the First United Presbyterian Church, The Torrington Volunteer Fire Department,
Masonic Lodge #29 and The Sugar Valley Singers. J.B. served his church as both a deacon and an
elder, and he coached several sports teams for his sons. J.B. served as an advisor for Max Burk
Chapter Order of DeMolay. J.B. served three terms as the Master of Torrington Lodge #29, and
he served one term on the Torrington City Council. J.B.'s spirit may have passed, but his
infectious dry sense of humor lives on in the community and the ones he loved.
J.B. is survived by his wife, Nancy, of Torrington, his children John, Mike (Janel) and Stacey Hays
all of Cheyenne, WY., and his granddaughter Morgan O'Neill of Hastings, NE. Donations may be
made to the First Wyoming United Presbyterian Church, or Wagging Tails Animal Shelter.