Helen Sybil Hay

Helen Sybil Hay, 87, of Livonia, Michigan , passed away at the Cooney Convalescent Home in Helena, Montana on August 7, 2005. She was born near Jackson, Michigan on January 19, 1918, the youngest daughter of Harvey Winthrop Palmer and Helen Matilda Gavett Palmer. Sadly, Sybil’s father died when she was very young in a flu epidemic, but her mother and sisters made sure she was well cared for, had a solid faith, and that she got a good education. She attended schools in Parma, Michigan and moved to Washington state where she completed high school in Mount Vernon and secretarial school in Seattle. Upon moving back to Michigan, she married Garfield Donald Hay on May 16, 1941 and worked off and on at H & H Tube Manufacturing for many years. The real focal points of Sybil’s life were her family and her church. Garfield and Sybil had four wonderful children, Louise, Joyce, Harold, and Marcia whom they raised in Livonia. Sybil enjoyed singing in her church choir and the wonderful relationships she had with her Sunday School classes at Trinity Baptist Church, Highland Park Baptist Church, and later, Covenant Community Baptist Church. Her faith was simple, unwavering, and the strength of her life. Garfield and Sybil had many wonderful memories of family trips across the country, some international travel to visit daughter Louise in Sicily where three of their grandchildren were born. They enjoyed trips to Montana to visit son, Harold, and his family. Highlights there were hiking to a ghost town and floating the Missouri River. Sybil was always close to her daughter and son-in-law Marcia and Bill Barnard, who she was happy stayed in the Detroit area to share their lives with her on a day-to-day basis. Marcia has a beautiful singing voice that Sybil never tired of listening to. Sybil was preceded in death by her parents, sisters Winifred Schwartz, Mary Howe, and Grace Emery; her husband Garfield, and daughter Joyce Ruth Hay. Survivors include children Louise Sybil Gabbard of Corpus Christi, TX; Harold Walter Hay (Judy) of Helena, MT; and Marcia Joan Barnard (Bill) of Novi, MI; grandchildren Sharolyn Hacker, Rebecca Crow (Jeremy), Marilyn Gabbard, Max Hay, Blakely Hay, and Ramsay Hay; great grandchildren Shanelle Hacker, Samantha Hacker, and Aerial Escomilla; and many nieces, grand nieces and grand nephews. Visitation and funeral services will be at RG & GR Harris Funeral Home, 15451 Farmington Road, Livonia Michigan Visitation will be Thursday Aug.11, 6pm – 9pm, and Friday Aug.12, noon – 9pm. The funeral service will be Saturday, August 13, 11:30am. Interment will be at Parkview Memorial Cemetery. Memorials can be made to Send International, PO Box 513 Farmington, MI, or Christian Service Brigade, C/O Gene Francis, 972 Northlawn, Birmingham, MI 48009. Please share a memory of Sybil with her family by signing the online guestbook. Funeral Home: R.G. & G.R. Harris Funeral Home and Cremation Services 15451 Farmington Rd. Livonia, MI US 48154