Belva Ileene Hayes

Wasilla resident Belva Ileene Hayes, 78, died Dec. 27, 2011, at Mat-Su Regional Medical Center in Palmer.

A memorial service is at 2 p.m., Jan. 2 at Kehl's Palmer Chapel. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Wasilla Area Senior Center in her name.

Ileene was born Aug. 21, 1933, in Gallipolis, Ohio, to Basil Lee and Dorthea (Davis) Hayes. Shortly thereafter, the family moved to Tampa, Fla., where she went to school. She met and married U.S. Air Force Sgt. Harry G. Cummins. From there her family was stationed in many parts of the world.

In early 1966, Ileene moved to Alaska to be near her children. In 2001, she met Tom Hughes and lived very happily with him until her death. Her last job was with Bingo Mania, where she was known as "Granny" until she retired in 2009.

Her hobbies included gardening, bingo, poker, gambling, cage fighting, football, football pools and family.

"See was funny, feisty, strong-willed, loud, lovable and a great sense of what family should be like," the family wrote. "She taught us a lot more and Heaven is a better place with her in it."

Ileene is survived by her mate, Thomas Hughes; daughter and son-in-law, Truday and David Visker; son, Gerry Lee Cummins; daughter and son-in-law, Tammy and Steve Marchione; brother and sister-in-law Basil Lee and Rose Hayes; brother and sister-in-law, Vernon and Laurie Horne; and many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Harry G. Cummins; mother, Dorthea Caldwell; father, Basil Hayes; and stepfather, Walter Caldwell.