NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Kathryn Ann (Kelly) Hayes, 78, died peacefully at her home in Dawsonville, Ga., on Saturday, December 1, 2018, after a courageous struggle with rheumatoid arthritis, with her loving family by her side.



Kathryn was born on April 29, 1940 in North Adams, Mass., to Margaret (Cummings) Kelly and Donald Kelly. She graduated from St. Joseph's high school in 1957 and attended Bliss Business School.



While working at the local telephone company Kathryn, quite serendipitously, met Frank Hayes, a pilot from Cohoes, N.Y., who was flying corporate planes out of Harriman Airport in North Adams. Romance blossomed and they were married at St. Francis Church in North Adams in 1961. Shortly thereafter they moved to Marysville, Mich., where Frank began flying for the Diamond Salt Co.; in 1965, they moved to Atlanta, Ga., where Frank spent 30 years as a pilot for Delta Airlines.



Kathryn was primarily a homemaker in Dunwoody, Ga., where they settled, and was a devoted mother to their three children, who were outstanding students and gifted tennis players. When, as teenagers, the kids started flying glider planes solo, Kathryn thought it was a good idea. Kathryn and Frank spent many happy hours on their boat on Lake Lanier and, on a lark, once sailed up the Atlantic coastline. They loved to travel, especially to Germany, where they would often pick a new car off the assembly line and ship it back to the States.



Known for her exuberant personality, sweet disposition and gentle manner, Kathryn will be deeply missed by her family and many friends.



Kathryn is survived by her husband, Frank; their three children, Patricia Haywood and her husband, Mark, of Duluth, Ga., Kevin Hayes and his wife, Patricia, of Memphis, Tenn., and Lynnanne Eurton and her husband, Tim, of San Antonio, Texas; her sister, Eileen Green and her husband, Jim, of McLean, Va.; her brother, Michael Kelly, and his wife, Doreen, of New York, N.Y.; her six beloved grandchildren; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.



Funeral notice: Calling hours are Tuesday, December 4, 2018, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Dahlonega Funeral Home, 20 Gibson Road, Dahlonega, Ga. A funeral Mass will be celebrated on Wednesday, December 5, 2018, at 10 a.m. at St. Luke's Church, 91 North Park St., Dahlonega, GA.



Calling hours at Flynn & Dagnoli-Montagna Home for Funerals West Chapel, 521 West Main St., North Adams, Mass., are Saturday, December 8, 2018, from 10 to 11 a.m. with burial at Southview Cemetery to follow. Donations in Kathryn's name may be sent to the Rheumatoid Arthritis Foundation, Help Fight RA, 8815 Conroy Windermere Rd, Suite 309, Orlando, FL 32835.