Dora M. Hayward, 94, long time resident of Sundance passed peacefully from this life Sunday afternoon, December 14, 2008, at Crook County Memorial Hospital following complications from a stroke.

Dora was born August 23, 1914, at Greybull, Wyoming, the daughter of Wallace and Orpha (Burdick) Boulden. She was raised on the homestead ranch on Little Thunder Creek west of Clareton, Wyoming; attended country school and spent countless hours riding horseback and sharing her days with her beloved Mother Cat and dog Ring. When Dora was high school age the family bought a ranch on Oil Creek, 9 miles SW of Newcastle. She then attended and graduated from Newcastle High School in 1934 and worked in Newcastle at the county welfare office and Crum's Department Store for several years. She met Calvin Hayward of Hyannis, Nebraska, in 1936. The couple exchanged wedding vows on August 15, 1942, at Lowry Field AFB, Denver, Colorado. They lived in Denver; Columbia, SC; Coffeeville, KS and Altus, OK before Dora returned to Newcastle while Calvin was stationed in England during WWII. After his discharge they lived in Frannie, WY. In August of 1944 they were blessed with daughter, Heather, and another daughter, Donna, in October 1947.

In April 1950, the Haywards moved to Sundance and purchased Sundance Electric where Dora worked hand in hand with her husband for 41 years managing the business end of the enterprise. Her hobbies were her bookwork, which she did until age 90, and cooking. She was a great cook! She was a 48 year member of Electa Chapter #5 OES where she held many offices including Worthy Matron; life member of Beta Sigma Phi Sorority and attended Sundance Methodist Church. She was a faithful christian who lived God's word in her daily life.

Her generosity and caring nature was surpassed only by her love for her family and she was always ready with a helping hand wherever needed. She preferred doing something for someone else and rarely considered her own well being. Always present with a happy smile and kind word, she loved spending time with family and friends. Visiting was one of her favorite pastimes.

A very proud, determined and strong willed woman, Dora was still driving her car a month before her passing and around Sundance will be remembered as the classy little lady that never left her house without her hair fixed, her makeup on and wearing her high heeled shoes. Only until the doctor told her at age 91 to get off those shoes did she reluctantly trade her "high" heels for 1 1/2" heels which she wore to the very end.

Thankful to have shared her life are her daughter Donna and husband, Jim Dark of Sundance; granddaughters Jacki Jedrykowski of Rapid City; Darby and husband, Jason Smiley of Rapid City; Jayme and husband, Brock Buresh of Colorado Springs; great grandchildren Jacob and Olyvia Smiley of Rapid City and sister Wanda and husband, Paul Liamos of Cheyenne. She was preceded in death by her parents; Calvin, her husband of 54 years and daughter Heather Jedrykowski.

Visitation will be from 4:00 PM until 7:00 PM on Thursday, December 18, 2008 at Fidler-Roberts & Isburg Funeral Chapel in Sundance. Funeral services will be at 11:00 AM on Friday, December 19, 2008 at Sundance Methodist Church with Pastor Gene Hagerman of Upton, WY officiating. Interment will follow at 2:30 PM at Black Hills National Cemetery, near Sturgis, SD. Memorials have been established to Electa Chapter #5 OES and Sundance Methodist Church.