Hayes, Vivian R.

Vivian Hayes was a free spirited, independent woman who succeeded in a man's world. She was a wonderful aunt to her two nieces, an accomplished media executive, an ice skating champion, a surrogate mother to a select few, and a friend to all.

When a nurse asked about her life just before her death, Vivian replied quite directly and succinctly: "I was a skater".

She succumbed to cancer at the age of 68 on October 16, 2010. She had just returned from a memorable road trip with her childhood friend Connie Hensley to visit her niece Rebecca Kuker, grand-nephew Hayes, and grand-niece Bosley in Wyoming, as well as her sister Ruth Hayes Bosley in Idaho.

Her niece Rachael Bridenstine and adopted nephew Corey Stange were constant confidants, and the sounding board for Vivian's omnipresent opinions on life, politics, fur coats, cats, Rush Limbaugh, and the joys of shopping on T.V. Vivian Hayes was born in Sioux City, Iowa to Calvin and Helen Hayes on November 11, 1941.

She attended Colorado Women's College and was an avid Nebraska Cornhusker fan. She chose to work in the field of media buying and advertising, working in New York, Chicago, and Indianapolis. She was rumored to have argued politics with Andy Warhol and discussed art with Salvador Dali, having lived just across from the Playboy Mansion in Chicago in the 1960's. Vivian later produced a weekly radio program in New York, acted in several T.V. and radio commercials, and hosted her own weekly T.V. game show in Minneapolis.

Vivian Hayes was a professional figure skater - a national champion "pair dancing" figure skater - and toured as a member of the "Ice Follies" in the 1970's. Her career in the advertising and media world started in the 1960's and included her endeared tenure at WTHR – NBC Indianapolis where she became National Sales Manager – a particularly significant event in the "Mad Men" male dominated world of advertising during those days. Vivian was a co-founder of the Network of Women in Business in Indianapolis and ultimately started her own company, Midwest Media Inc. She cherished dearly her life-long relationships with coworkers, clients, and colleagues in the media industry in Indianapolis.

Vivian Hayes gave of herself without reservation. There was never a Christmas in the Hayes family that she did not play a major role. Without her overly voluminous, perfectly wrapped QVC gifts to her nieces and their kids, the family Christmas trees would have been barren. The same could be said by her friends and family of having lived life without Vivian. Vivian was generous beyond measure, endearingly eccentric in her tastes, and as genuine of a human being as has ever skated this earth.

Her Celebration of Life will be held Friday, November 12 at The Chateau at Britton Falls located at 13079 Del Webb Parkway in Fishers with reception from 12:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m. with some words from friends and family at 1:30 p.m.

Please visit the online guestbook at: www.harrywmoore.com

Rest in peace, Vivian.