Carla Cole Hayes

A terrible winter delayed the funeral of Carla Cole Hayes, youngest daughter of Myron and Minnie Cole of Fairview, Idaho. She passed away on November 7, 2022. Carla was proud to be the daughter of a Fairview farmer and a school teacher who was an LDS Relief Society leader.

     A graduate of Preston High School, Carla married Graham Hayes in 1957, then worked as a legal secretary to support him while he earned a BA and MA at the University of Utah. With their son John, they moved to New York where Graham taught at Clarkson University while Carla earned a BS in Psychology at New York University, placing 40th in a class of 320. She then became a Children’s Social Worker, beginning a career in helping the less fortunate. In 1971, she moved her family to Connecticut, where she worked as a therapist for the psychiatrist Bernard Raxlen, MD, while earning her MS at the University of Bridgeport. In 1975, she became the Executive Director of the City of Milford’s first Human Resources Development Agency that served all ages. After 12 years of favorable press and accolades for her city agency and personal service to the Red Cross, United Way, and support for many civic groups, Mayor Joel R. Baldwin said, “I have nothing but praise for the manner in which you conducted your affairs. Getting something new off the ground is a very difficult task. I have nothing but admiration for the way you serve the needs of the people of Milford.” Mayor Alberta Jagoe, equally praising, proclaimed April 25,1988 as CARLA HAYES DAY.     

     Later, Carla was CEO of South-Central Connecticut Area Agency on Aging for the elderly in 50 Connecticut towns and cities. Again, she was admired and valued, and received accolades from a wide range of state and city associates, including her Congressional Representative, Rosa L. DeLauro.

     Carla liked to inform people that she learned her values of “love thy neighbor” on a farm in Fairview, Idaho. After retiring, she suffered a stroke and returned to Salt Lake City and Graham’s family, enabling medical assistance and visits to her mother in Idaho. After Minnie’s death, Carla and Graham moved to California to be close to their son, John, and his wife Athena.

     A victim of cancer, Carla Cole Hayes, as she always wanted, and after excelling in, “a different world” has come home to Rest in Peace in the Fairview Idaho Cemetery. Graveside services will be held Thursday June 15, 2023 in the Fairview Cemetery at 12:00 p.m. Memories and condolences may be shared with the family at webbmortuary.com