Housteene Hays Prior Obituary
It is with deep sorrow that we announce the death of Housteene Hays Prior (Sanford, Florida), who passed away on April 12, 2018, at the age of 84, leaving to mourn family and friends. You can send your sympathy in the guestbook provided and share it with the family.
She was loved and cherished by many people including: her parents, Charley Allen Hays and Brownie Elizabeth Houston; her great grandchildren, King Charlemagne of Frankish Cologne and Clovis of Frankish Cologne; and her spouse Lt James A. Prior (Jim).
Her first job was with Civilian Personnel at Redstone Arsenal, where she was a clerk for the "Paperclip" Group." vonBraun's group. She and Jim met at the Aresnal cafeteria one day for lunch and their story lasted until her death, 62 years later. Jim had been transferred to White Sands Proving Ground before their marriage, and that began a long list of places they lived. Theirs was an adventurous one through and beyond the Cold War days, mostly in missiles and aerospace. She is a member of the White Sands Pioneer Group. They lived in El Paso, White Sands, Huntington Woods, MI, Huntsville, Itlay, and Melbourne Beach, Florida where her two daughters were born, she also lived in Cincinnati, Deltona, and finally settled for the rest of their time in Sanford, 44 years ago. Tina loved animals, especially cats, of which she had many. Tina was a retired social worker of the Florida Health and Rehabilitative Service, now known as Children and Families. She had previously worked for the Volusia County School System and Seminole Junior College. She was a member of Ikebana International, in the Sogetsu School of Japanese Flower Arranging, Chapter 132, in Orlando. In their travels they lived in Italy for almost two years in the late 50s. They visited Germany, Denmark, Sweden, The Netherlands, France, Switzerland, England, Scotland, Austria, Greece and Turkey, some several times, with visits lasting from a few days to a few weeks. Italy was their first and last stop and the growth and progress was very apparent in the intervening 36 years. Tina was predeceased by her parents, her brother, Col. Willard Murrel Hays Ph.D., and many cousins. She is survived by her husband, James A. Prior, her two children; Andrea Karen Farmer (Michael), and Elizabeth Hays Shashaty (Raymond) and her four Shashaty grandchildren; Jessica Hays, Leah Emily, James Raymond and Anisa Grace. She is also survived by Bland Houston, Ph.D., her sister in law, Peggy Louise Hays, nieces, Keltie Louise Peay, Meridith Gail Hays and several Hays relatives including the Benincasa family, Francesco and Giulia, and Marianne Richter and her children. We cannot forget her cousins Joseph Clark and family and Joe Houston Allen and family. Charles Houston, and lifelong friend Ann Jennings. A Memorial Service is being scheduled for Saturday, April 21, 2018 at the Upsala Presbyterian Church in Sanford. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her name to: Upsala Presbyterian Church, 101 Upsala Road Sanford, Florida 32771 Journey's End Animal Sanctuary, P.O. Box 22016, Glenwood, Florida 32722 Bethbirei Presbyterian Church, care of Nelda Adgent, Treasurer, P.O. Box 2752, Lewisburg, TN 37091 A memorial service in Lewisburg will be planned for the Bethbirei Church and Cemetery at a later date when a monument is installed. Arrangements entrusted to Baldwin-Fairchild Oaklawn Chapel in Sanford, Florida.
