Karen Hayes
Karen Lynn Hayes (Corey), 80, died Dec. 24, 2024, at Community Hospital in Missoula.
She was born July 21, 1944, to parents Lyle Corey and Agnes (Krein) in Reno, Nev. She grew up and graduated from Scobey High School in 1962. Upon graduation from high school, she attended cosmetology school in Billings before marrying David Hayes and settling down to start a family. They had three children, Brent, Margo and Mike. They raised their children in Cut Bank.
She discovered her love of flowers and crafts in Cut Bank. She used her design skills for many years as a floral designer at the Cut Bank Greenhouse where she developed lifelong friendships. She co-owned the successful business Something Special focused on floral arrangements and crafts. She nurtured beautiful gardens wherever she lived. She transformed many vacant spaces into colorful works of art. She spent many hours among her flower beds admiring the plants, pulling weeds and casting seeds wherever there was visible dirt.
She also loved sewing and crafts. She became a talented lifelong seamstress after making her sister Kelli’s wedding dress and sewing many clothes for her daughter Margo. She soon added ceramics to her artistic skills. She was never without a sewing or cross-stitch project or crafting one of her dolls which she sold at local crafts outlets.
She made the bold decision to attend college later in life. She created a rivalry with her MSU Bobcat children by enrolling in the University of Montana where she graduated with honors with a bachelor of social work in 2002.
