Sylvia Louise Bays

Sylvia Louise Bays, 78, retired medical technologist, passed away Sunday, July 31, 2016, at Wesley Medical Center. She was born November 2, 1937 to Dr. Robert E. and Virginia Bays and spent most of her youth in Arkansas City. She graduated from Wichita State University and the University of Kansas Medical Center where she majored in microbiology and medical technology, with additional training at the National Center for Disease Control. Sylvia was the Chief Medical Technologist at the VA Hospital lab here in Wichita for many years. Always loyal to her two universities, she loved WSU and KU basketball and was a WSU season ticket holder until her health made it impossible to attend. During her life she traveled extensively, loved the outdoors, took ski trips with the Ski Club, played tennis, and especially enjoyed golf with friends over the years. She liked Elvis Presleys music and always had a stack of mystery books at hand to read. Sylvia had served on her Homeowners Association Board and was described by a neighbor as "a good watchdog for her neighborhood." She was a strong, opinionated woman with an independent spirit who called things like she saw them, a very intelligent woman, a "spitfire" with a kind heart. She loved animals, especially her beloved cat, Carla. She was preceded in death by her parents; grandparents; and an aunt, uncle, and cousin, Marion, Louise and Connie Boner of Independence, KS. She is survived by first cousin, Donald Bays, and his sons, Jacob and Nathan and their families, all of Cumby, TX; cousin, Harriet Hickman of Maize. Memorials to honor Sylvia may be made to the Kansas Humane Society, 3313 N. Hillside, Wichita, KS 67219. Sylvia will be laid to rest at Riverview Cemetery Mausoleum in Arkansas City, KS. Friends who wish to pay their respects and celebrate Sylvias life are invited to an informal gathering at Downing & Lahey East, 6555 E. Central, on Friday, August 12, 2016, between 5:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m.