Larry Wendell Hays, 83, Wichita, KS, died on January 13, 2026. Larry was born July 1, 1942, in Wichita, KS, to Loyal Wendell Hays and Frances Eleanor (Robinson) Hays. Growing up, Larry's interests included playing outdoors, sports, art, and teasing his younger sister, Susan. He graduated from Wichita East High School in 1960 and attended Southwestern College in the fall of that year. He graduated from Southwestern in 1964 with a BA in Psychology. During his time at Southwestern, he met Barbara Blackburn, and they were married on June 12, 1965, at Epworth Methodist Church in Wichita, KS. He and Barbara attended Oklahoma State University for their master's degrees. Larry then pursued his doctoral degree at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, TX. Larry completed his dissertation and earned a PhD in Clinical Psychology in 1971.

Larry accepted a position in Temple, TX, in 1972, at Bell County Community Mental Health Center. Larry and Barbara's son, Lyle, was born in October 1973. The family moved to Kansas City in 1977, where Larry worked in private practice for five years. In the summer of 1981, Larry accepted a position at Prairie View Mental Health Center in McPherson, KS. Larry worked in the McPherson office and the Newton campus. He worked his way to become Chief Psychologist for Prairie View from 1990-2007. Larry also served on the State of Kansas Behavioral Sciences Regulatory Board from February 1997 through June 2003. Larry retired from Prairie View in 2007. After spending nine more years in McPherson, Larry and Barbara moved to Wichita in 2016.

Larry's interests and hobbies stemmed from a passion for learning, a love of nature, and compassion for others. Larry was an avid reader, reading multiple books on a variety of topics at one time. His hobbies over the course of his life included sailing, photography, golf, biking, camping, music, and sports. Larry's love of the outdoors led him to travel. He particularly enjoyed camping trips to the mountains and gatherings for family reunions. Larry was active in church groups in the various communities where he lived.

Larry helped organize the Central Kansas Conservancy. The CKC worked to develop the Meadowlark Trail. Larry worked with the StepMc program to help bring a Grace Med clinic to McPherson.

Larry was preceded in death by his parents, Wendell and Frances Hays. Surviving family members include wife, Barbara Hays, son, Lyle Hays and his wife Jade, granddaughters, Rylie Hays, Alana Hays, and Gianna Hays, sister, Susan Ensz, brother-in-law, Clark Ensz, and many loved nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

The celebration service for Larry will be held on Tuesday, January 20th at 11:00 AM at Calvary United Methodist Church, 2525 N. Rock Road, Wichita, KS 67226. A family interment ceremony of the cremains will be held at Highland Cemetery in Winfield, KS.

A memorial fund for Larry has been established at Prairie View, Inc. 1901 E. First Street, Newton, KS 67114. Donations can also be made online at prairieview.org/giving.