Hayes & Allen
Sadly, Lorane lost another of its longtime residents. Lou Dell Doughty Hayes was born and attended grade school in Lorane; she later graduated from Crow High School in 1960. She married Walt Hayes in 1963 and they were married for 46 years before he passed in 2009. The Hayes family had lived in the Lorane area since 1897, so, between the Hayes and the Doughtys, their roots grew deep in the rich Siuslaw Valley soil.
Walt and Lou had three children – Kimberly, Laurie and Bradley – and their son Brad is raising his family in Lorane on property where he grew up.
The Hayes were actively involved in many community organizations over the years. They gave their time to the Lorane Grange, the Lorane P.T.C., the Crow High School Booster Club, and the Lorane Centennial Committee. They were also members of the Lorane Christian Church. Lou spent many years on the Lane County Elections Board, Lorane precinct, when we all voted at the local school or grange; she worked for the U.S. Census Bureau from 1964-90, was a teacher-volunteer for the Lane County Home Extension Study Group and had several at-home businesses. Both Walt and Lou were 4-H leaders and were licensed foster parents in the mid-1970s. In addition, they hosted Spanish exchange students through the Crow HS exchange program. According to Lou, “It was a most wonderful experience for our family.”
To many, one of her most notable contributions was the organization of the Lorane Old Timer’s Picnic held annually in August for years.
Lou was a friend to many and one of those people you knew you could count on to get any job done. She will be missed by so many friends that she left behind. Our condolences go out to the Doughty and Hayes families of Lorane.
Another loss has really rocked the world of the Edwards’ family. A young woman who we have known for many years died tragically about two weeks ago. She was a star athlete who played basketball against our granddaughters in high school and a good student; she was an “unofficial” part of our family during those years and while attending the LCC Dental Assistant Program. She worked at our store for a while, and eventually moved on with her life. She was beautiful, inside and out, and she was happy, intelligent … and loved. We saw little of her the past 10 years or so, but we knew that she had become a mother. The last time I saw her, about five years ago, she had her little girl with her and it was easy to see how proud and happy she was. Those are the memories that I want to remember her by.
Our daughter posted her obituary, and one of the comments struck a chord. “There are things in life that will never make sense; this is one of them.”
The memory of the woman we once knew will live on in our hearts. Rest in peace, Shauna Allen (1987-2022).
