Regina "Gina" Ann Rawls Hayes

Gina Hayes passed away on Friday, November 20, 2020 in Pasadena, Texas at age 75 years, 8 months and 17 days. She was born Regina Ann Rawls on March 3, 1945 in Santa Monica, California to James Leo & Annette Rawls. Her dad was in the U.S. Navy until she was 11, and she recalls living near the famous Santa Monica Pier as a child, before moving to Texas to live with her dad and stepmom. She graduated from Jasper High School in Jasper, TX in 1963, and later studied secretarial science at Chenier Business College in Beaumont, TX. She worked as a marketing assistant for Chevron in Port Arthur, TX, and lived in California, Texas and Oklahoma.

Gina loved animals, especially her Chihuahua dogs. She could often be found at the casinos across the border in Louisiana or playing Bingo, and more recently she discovered online gaming. She was very generous with her winnings when she occasionally hit it big. She had a strong belief in her Lord and Savior and often turned to her faith for strength in her final years as her health declined. She was a breast cancer survivor in her 40’s and stroke survivor, before battling chronic respiratory failure.

She was preceded in death by her parents, James Leo “Big Dad” Rawls and wife Arvie Annie (Davis) Rawls; and Annette Evelyn (Wolf) Thorson and husband Charles Louis Thorson; step-siblings Opal (Minyard) Kimmey and William “Dub” Minyard.

She is survived by her son David Hennigan and wife Melissa of Denver City, TX; daughter Jaelyn Hardy of Cypress, TX; son James Hayes and wife Lorie of Orange, TX; half-sister Felicia Thorson of California; grandchildren Joseph (& Brittany) Hennigan, Zachary (& Sarah) Hennigan, Conley (& Amber) Hennigan, Gage (& Christina) Hayes, Heaven Logan (& Zack) Walker, Cody (& Jessica) Caples and Jeromey (& Taylor) Watkins; great-grandchildren Aaron, Alice, Ariel, Audrey, Callan, Caselynn, Caydence, Colton, Connor, Nolan, Parker, Riley, Scarlett, Shiloh, Wesley and another great-grandbaby due next year; nephews Brandon and Delton; nieces Dana, Dianne and Hilda; and her beloved dog Cocoa.

A graveside service will be held at 2:00 p.m., Tuesday, November 24, 2020, at Smith Cemetery in Jasper, Texas.

The family would like to thank the staff at The Medical Resort at Bay Area in Pasadena, Texas for the wonderful loving care they provided for their mother.