Deborah Hays

Deborah K. Hays, age 65 of Cottage Grove, passed away on July 3, 2015 while on her dream vacation at Yellowstone National Park.

Funeral service will be 2:00 pm Saturday, July 11, 2015 at Kok Funeral Home, 7676-80th Street S., Cottage Grove, with visitation one hour prior. Memorial donations are preferred and will be directed to the Shriners Hospital for Children.

Deborah Kay (Nelson) Hays was born May 7, 1950 in Eau Claire, Wisconsin to Franklin and Marion (Asmussen) Nelson. She grew up in Eau Claire and attended the North High School. She was married to Duane Hays in 1967 and after the couple had children, they moved to Cottage Grove where she enjoyed gardening and raising her boys. In 1978 she started working at H & R Block as a tax preparer and later became an enrolled agent. During those years she took on training new employees and developed relations with several thousand clients. Deb was married to Stephen Porter in June of 2003 in Roberts, Wisconsin at her son's home. She enjoyed fishing, traveling, camping, time on the computer and reading tax publications.

Deb is survived by her husband Stephen Porter; two sons, Al (Lisa) Hays and Rick; grandchildren, Tyler and Cody Hays; brother, Leslie (Butch) Nelson; sisters, Carol (Greg) Loss, Sandy (Stan) Andersen and Judy (John) Bright; step-grandchildren, Aliesha, Autumn, Ashley and Bradley Finke, Felecia and Andrew Aegerter and Elijah Porter; step-sons, Phillip and Douglas (Any) Porter and mother-in-law, Lucille "Nana" Porter; in-laws, Jean Owens, Roland (Dorla) Wagner and Susan (Arthur) Nasseff; Aunt Erma Witta; Uncle Dale Lampman as well as many nieces, nephews and cousins. She is preceded in death by her parents.