Peggy E. Hays, age 80, of Appleton, passed away peacefully at her home on Sunday, September 24, 2017, after a short illness. Peggy was born in Hamilton, Ohio on February 4, 1937, to the late John and Louise (Meyer) Ewen. Peggy graduated high school from Seven Mile High School with the class of 1955. On January 20, 1962, she was united in marriage to James Hays at Lindenwald Methodist Church in Hamilton, Ohio. The couple enjoyed 55 years together. Peggy started out working as a secretary initially at Ohio Casualty Insurance and then moved to Champion Papers where she and Jim met and then Reynolds Metals when they moved to Richmond, Virginia in 1962. She then took time off to be a mom to raise her two children, Alan and Susan, and then eventually moved to Appleton where she went to work for Schenk and Associates for many years, retiring in 2002. She was a member of The Eastern Star Fidelity Chapter 54 and The White Shrine of Jerusalem Valley #10. She was also a member at First United Methodist Church in Appleton and was very active in the Wednesday Night Live dinners, helping make and serve food to all those who came. Peggy enjoyed watching the Badgers, the Brewers, and especially the Packers. She loved working in her garden and belonged to several bridge clubs and a Gourmet Dinner Club. She was an avid reader, usually reading at least two books a week. She will be missed by her husband Jim, of Appleton; son Alan (Susan) Hays, Rockton, IL; daughter Susan Jankelson, Graham, WA; 2 grandchildren: Allison and Kathryn; brother Russ (Debbie) Ewen, Williamsdale, OH; 2 sisters: Myra Jean Flick, Fairfield, OH and Mary Singleton, West Chester, OH; 3 sisters-in-law: Barbara (John) McCall, New Bern, NC, Lynne Hays, Cincinnati, OH, and Evelyn Ewen, Overpeck, OH. She is further survived by numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; 4 brothers: Richard, Robert, Ralph, and Ron Ewen; sister: Betty Ann Hill; brother-in-law: William Singleton; her father- and mother-in-law: Charles and Ruby (Maddox) Hays; and brothers-in-law: Richard Hays and David Hays. A memorial service will take place at 1 pm on Saturday, November 4, 2017 at First United Methodist Church, 325 E. Franklin St., Appleton with Rev. Markus Wegenast officiating. Friends may visit at the church that Saturday from 11 am until the time of service. In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established. The family would like to extend a special thank you to Dolly Manning for her compassionate care shown to Peggy during her illness. Thank you also to the staff at Bright Star, Ascension Visiting Nurses, and the Ascension Hospice team. Thank you to the team at the St. Elizabeth's Cancer Center and ER for their care.