Susan “Lynnette” Hayes

There are people who simply pass through this world and then there are people who leave it forever changed. Susan “Lynnette” Hayes was one of those rare souls. She lived with extraordinary grace, quiet strength, and a servant’s heart, spending her life helping others through both their happiest celebrations and their darkest days. She passed away peacefully on July 4, 2026, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, surrounded by the love she had spent a lifetime giving so freely.

Lynnette was born on August 16, 1959, in Chickasha, Oklahoma, to J.W. and Sue (Mitchell) Altebaumer. As the daughter of funeral directors, compassion was woven into the fabric of her life from the very beginning. Her childhood was spent moving throughout Oklahoma as her parents served families in communities including Talihina and Altus before settling in Guthrie in 1972, a town she would forever call home.

At a Guthrie High School homecoming dance in 1974, a young man named Chuck Hayes asked if he could drive Lynnette home. She said yes, admittedly because she couldn’t resist his 1969 Chevrolet Camaro. That one ride became the beginning of a love story that would span nearly five decades. She graduated from Guthrie High School in 1977 and on October 8 of that same year, she and Chuck were married at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Guthrie. Together they built not only a marriage rooted in unwavering love and partnership, but a life devoted to serving others.

While still in high school, Lynnette’s parents purchased Mary’s Flower Shop, where she discovered and perfected the gift that so many came to know and admire. She became an FTD Master Designer, creating breathtaking arrangements that transformed life’s most meaningful moments into lasting memories. Whether celebrating a new beginning, honoring a loved one, or offering comfort during unimaginable loss, Lynnette had an unmatched ability to express what words often could not. Her hands created beauty, but her heart created healing.

She faithfully worked at Mary’s Flower Shop for many years before she and Chuck fulfilled another dream together by opening Hayes Funeral Home in March of 2009. As co-owner, Lynnette continued the ministry of compassion that had shaped her entire life. She gently guided thousands of families through some of their most difficult days with kindness, patience, dignity, and love. She believed every family deserved to feel cared for, every life deserved to be honored beautifully, and every goodbye deserved to be meaningful. Countless families left Hayes Funeral Home feeling just a little less alone because Lynnette had walked beside them.

To know Lynnette was to know genuine kindness. She never sought recognition for the countless lives she touched because helping others simply came naturally to her. She loved deeply, listened patiently, gave generously, and somehow always found a way to make everyone around her feel important.

Susan “Lynnette” Hayes

Of all the roles she held throughout her life, none meant more to her than being a wife, mother, and especially “Momo.”

She was a devoted mother to Cody and Hope, encouraging them, believing in them, and loving them unconditionally every single day of their lives. But becoming “Momo” unlocked a joy unlike any other. Her grandchildren were truly the light of her life. She celebrated every birthday, every accomplishment, every ballgame, every school program, every milestone, and every ordinary afternoon that became extraordinary simply because she was there. Nothing made her happier than watching her grandchildren grow and they never had to wonder how deeply they were loved.

In 2014, Lynnette faced breast cancer with the same quiet courage that defined every part of her life, and she defeated it. When the cancer returned in the summer of 2022 as metastatic breast cancer, she once again chose hope over fear. Over the next four years she endured 123 chemotherapy treatments and 50 radiation treatments. Through every appointment, every setback, every

Published in the Guthrie News Leader - July 8, 2026

difficult day, she remained remarkably strong. She fought harder than anyone thought possible yet never allowed cancer to define her. Instead, she chose gratitude. She chose faith. She chose laughter. She chose hope. To those who loved her most, she will forever be remembered as the strongest person to ever walk this earth.

Lynnette is survived by her beloved husband of 48 years, Chuck Hayes; her children, Cody Hayes and wife Kathy, and Hope Hayes VanOven and husband Chris; her cherished grandchildren, Peyton Hayes, Bo Hayes, Cooper Downs, and Paige Downs and fiancé Nick Norris; her beloved grand fur babies, Stella Blue and Bear; and her unbiological sisters and lifelong best friends, Janet Hayes and Jean Lacina.

She was preceded in death by her parents, J.W. and Sue Altebaumer.

Visitation will be held Wednesday, July 8, 2026, from 12:00 - 7:00 PM at Hayes Funeral Home, with the family receiving friends from 5:00 - 7:00 PM.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Thursday, July 9, 2026, at 10:30 AM at St. Mary’s Catholic Church with Rev. Fr. James Wickersham officiating. Burial will follow at Summit View Cemetery.

The Hayes family extends their heartfelt gratitude to the incredible oncology nurses and staff at Mercy Coletta Cancer Center. Your compassion, kindness, and unwavering care meant more than words can express. Thank you for loving Lynnette so well throughout her journey.

The Hayes family also extends their sincere gratitude to Suzanne Gray and the entire staff at Anderson-Burris Funeral Home in Enid. As a family who has spent decades serving others, we understand the calling of this profession. Thank you for serving ours with such grace, compassion, and respect. You gave us the opportunity to simply be a family during one of the most difficult times of our lives, and that is a gift we will always treasure.

Friends and family may sign the online guestbook at hayesfh. com.

“I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race. I have kept the faith.” — 2 Timothy 4:7