Dorothy Gooch Hayes Craven

Evans Funeral Home of Jefferson announces the death of Mrs. Dorothy Gooch Hayes Craven, age 103 of Jefferson, Georgia who passed away Sturday, April 27, 2024.  “Dot” was born in the Jackson Trail Community of Jackson County, daughter of the late Carl Gooch and the late Estelle Hogan Gooch.  In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by husband Dewey Lee Hayes.  Mrs. Craven remarried and was preceded in death by Mr. J.W. Craven.  In addition, Dot was preceded in death by sister Doris Wilbanks and brothers, Dover Gooch and Donald Gooch.

Mrs. Craven grew up on her parent’s produce farm and had a natural “green thumb”.  In the 1950’s she and husband Dewey owned a chicken and dairy farm selling Grade “B” milk.  By the late 1970s Dot owned and operated greenhouses supplying plants and flowers to nurseries across the southeast. In 1993 Dot married J.W. Craven and they worked together at Craven Pottery until they retired at the age of 87.  Dot’s involvement in church started at an early age where she would walk a mile and-a-half to White Plains Baptist Church.  Dot most recently was a member of Galilee Christian Church, Jefferson, Georgia.

Survivors include son Tony Hayes (Nancy), son Keith Hayes (Anita), daughter Ann Hayes Tompkins, daughter Sue Ellen Hayes Whiddon, stepson Joe Craven (Pam), stepson Mike Craven (Peggy), stepdaughter Betty Parker (Jerry), grandchildren Mark Whiddon (Christine) Kevin Whiddon (Wendy), Suzanna Richards (Bart), Stan Tompkins (Julie), Heather Hayes, Hunt Hayes, great grandchildren Destiny Hayes, Caiden Hayes, Savannah Tompkins, Dakota Tompkins, Caleb Dane Richards, Clay Richards, Tucker Richards, Matt Whiddon, Emily Murphy (Caleb), Tori Barnhart (Jake), Lindsey Whiddon, Great, Great Grandchildren, Arieanna Whiddon, and Mason Murphy.

Funeral services will be held 2:00 P.M. Monday, April 29, 2024 from the Chapel of Evans Funeral Home with Minister Nick Vipperman, Reverend Eric Shelton and  Mark Whiddon officiating with burial to follow in White Plains Baptist Church Cemetery.  Gentlemen honored as pallbearers are Stanley Tompkins, Dakota Tompkins, Dane Richards, Kevin Whiddon, Matt Whiddon, Caleb Murphy, Caiden Hayes and Hunt Hayes.  The family will receive friends 12:00 – 2:00 P.M. prior to the service at Evans Funeral Home.

Flowers are optional, memorials may be made in memory of Mrs. Dorothy Gooch Hayes Craven,  to Bethshean Mexico Mission, P.O. Box 7391, Athens, Georgia  30549                                     

Evans Funeral Home, Inc., 1350 Winder Highway, Jefferson, Georgia.  706-367-5467                                                                                                                                                                       Online condolences at www.evansfuneralhomeinc.com