EASTON – Beatrice Leota Kennedy Hayden, 82, died Monday night at a Presque Isle hospital. She was born Nov. 24, 1920, at Easton, the daughter of Wellington and Elsie (Kennedy) Kennedy. She attended Easton schools, graduated from Presque Isle Adult Education Program in 1986, and attended classes at UMPI. She married Kenneth Blake Tracy Hayden on July 28, 1937, and raised 15 children. They had children in the Easton school system for 42 years, 1943-1985. She was a member of the Pine Tree Baptist Church, past secretary of Happy Days Senior Citizen Club, and a 10-year member of RSVP. Beatrice is survived by four sons and their wives, James Nelson and Dell Hayden of Great Bend, Kan., Kenneth Wellington and Rolande Hayden of Jacksonville, N.C., Jerry Paul and Sally Hayden of Presque Isle, and Stephen Douglas Hayden of Searsmont; 11 daughters and their husbands, Myrna Gay Gardner of Mapleton, Ann Marie Bradley of Presque Isle, Gloria Jeanette and Keith Whitsel of Grand Prairie, Texas, Charlotte Elaine and Dennis Dyer of Presque Isle, Elsie Elizabeth and Ethan Kelley of Detroit, Lucinda Loree and Allen Dunehew of Wildwood, Mo., Rebecca Lynn and Timothy McGrath of Carmel, Deborah Kay and Mark Hews of Poland, Patricia Joanne and James Reed of Wade, Melanie Rae and Robert Kaiser of Chapman, and Tracy Anne Bradley of Presque Isle; a brother, Arnold Kennedy of Presque Isle; 34 grandchildren; 33 great-grandchildren; five great-great-grandchildren; two sisters-in-law, Helen Boyd of Mechanic Falls and Elva Dilling of Searsport. She was predeceased by her husband, Kenneth, in 1982; a brother, Edmund; two sisters, Erma Oakes and Edna Johnston; two grandsons, James Reed Jr. and Nelson Hayden; and a son-in-law, James Gardner. A celebration of life will be held 11 a.m. Friday at the Duncan-Graves Funeral Home, 30 Church St., Presque Isle, with the Rev. Carlos deCruz officiating. Relatives and friends may call at the funeral home 7-9 p.m. Thursday. Interment will be in Pine Tree Cemetery, Easton. Donations may be made in memory of Bea Hayden to the Pine Tree Baptist Church, Easton, ME 04740.
BEATRICE LEOTA HAYDEN
