Penny J. Hayes

Penny J. Hayes, age 67, of Sumner, Illinois, passed away on Thursday, May 23, 2024 at Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana, Illinois. She was born on March 28, 1957 in Lawrenceville, Illinois, the daughter of Joe and Beverly (Ballard) Barcroft. She married Kenneth D. Hayes on August 25, 1973, and he preceded her in death on September 19, 1991.

Penny worked as an EMT for years. She also worked at IGA, Key Market, Casey’s in Sumner, and Walmart in Olney, until her retirement.

Penny enjoyed going on golf cart rides, traveling to Arkansas to dig for gold, playing slot machines and scratch off tickets, and she was on a bowling league. She also liked dressing up in her clown outfit to walk in the Sumner Fall Festival Parade. She loved her grandkids and the beach more than anything.

Preceding her in death were her husband, Kenneth D. Hayes; maternal grandparents, William and Helen Ballard; father, Joe Barcroft; paternal grandparents, Albert and Ethel Barcroft; and longtime partner, John D. Forsythe.

Survivors include her mother, Beverly (Ballard) Barcroft of Sumner, Illinois; two children, Tracy Bricker and husband, Perry of Calhoun, Illinois and Jeremy Hayes and wife, Chrystal of Lawrenceville, Illinois; two sisters, Sandy Barcroft of Sumner, Illinois and Susan Barcroft of Lawrenceville, Illinois; four grandchildren; as well as several nieces and nephews.

A visitation will be conducted on Saturday, June 15, 2024 from 2:00 PM until 4:00 PM CDT at the Sivert-Macey & Steffey Funeral Home in Sumner, Illinois. The family extends an invitation to the meal following the visitation at Red Hills State Park.