Elwood Martin “Woody” Hays, age 85 of Salem, passed away on Monday December 28, 2020 at Deaconess Midtown Hospital in Evansville, IN. Elwood was born on August 25, 1935 in Salem, IL, the son of Edgar Oscar Hays and Bertha Marie (Cruthis) Hays Prosise. He married Betty Lou Mossberger on April 23, 1955 in Salem and she preceded him in death on December 26, 2010. Survivors include his sons, Kenny Hays and wife Kim of Salem; Marty Hays (Lori) of Salem; two daughters, Bonnie Ulrey of Salem and Connie VanMatre and husband Jim of Kell; two brothers, Jerry Prosise and wife Missy of Hoopston , and Paul Prosise and wife Sharon of Effingham; two sisters, Nola Booher and husband Robert of St. Elmo and Kathryn Booher of Salem; grandchildren, Michael Ulrey and wife Sara of Salem, Manda Sellers and Jimmy of Salem, Brent VanMatre of Kell, Branden VanMatre and special friend Julie Bowen of Youngtown, AZ, Kelli Hays and special friend Kyle Webster of Salem, Kyle Hays and wife Amanda of Kell, Kristin Donoho and husband Zach of Salem, and Lauren Brown and husband Damien of Louisville; great grandchildren, Shelly Collier Landreth and husband Lance, Kaden Donoho, Ava Donoho, Seth Ulrey, Emma Ulrey, Keagan Webster, Korben Webster, Caleigh Hays, Kolsen Donoho, Zaylee Donoho; and one great great grandchild, Florence Landreth. He was preceded in death by his parents, his step father Gerald Prosise, his wife, four brothers, Murl, Charlie, Donald, and Kerroll. Elwood was a member of the Harvey’s Point Christian Church. He was a member of the Oddfellows Lodge 114 in Salem for over 45 years. As a teenager Elwood worked at the Illinois Brokerage and worked part time on the family farm. He then worked at Kingwood in Flora, Sears Roebuch in Flora, managed a Emco Service Station in St. Elmo, and retired from Duncan Oil Company in Salem for over 30 years. Funeral services for Elwood Martin “Woody” Hays will be held on Tuesday, January 5, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. at Harvey’s Point Christian Church with Robert Webb and Randy Sands officiating. Burial will follow at the Harvey’s Point Cemetery. There will be a visitation on Monday at Crouse Funeral Home in Salem from 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. Memorial contributions can be made to the Salem Oddfellows Lodge 114 or the Harvey’s Point Cemetery and can be left at the funeral home. To plant Memorial Trees in memory of Elwood "Woody" Martin Hays, please click here to visit our Sympathy Store.