Mildred E Bays, 72, of 632 N. 31st St., New Castle, died Sunday afternoon in the Oakwood Health Care Center following a long illness.

She was born Jan. 3, 1917, in Burnside, Ky., a daughter of Lincoln and Ada Tarter Carender.  She is a member of the Calvary Baptist Church of New Castle and a member of the New Castle Brotherhood and Sisterhood, the Eagles Ladies auxiliary, Senior Citizens, Our Gang of Bank One and the AARP.

Survivors include two daughters, Mrs. Jerry (Janet) Knotts of New Castle and Mrs John (Joan) McGrath of St. Louis, Mo., a son, Tony Smitherman of Pendleton; four stepdaughters, Margaret Boris of Sloughouse, Calif., Mrs. Samuel (Aleen) Owens, Mrs. Noel (Ann) Binford , and Mrs. Paul (Katie) Wallen, all of New Castle; three stepsons, Marvin Smitherman of Merritt Island, Fla., Luther Bays and Donald Bays, both of New Castle; seven grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her first husband, Winslow B Smitherman, in January of 1961; her second husband, Wilie N Bays, and Donald and Ernest Smitherman; two brothers, Theodore and Joe Carender; two sisters, May Morrison and Mollie Gibson; and a great-grandson, Kyle Patton.

Services will be 1 pm Wednesday at Macer-Hall-Pasco Funeral Home, with the Rev. Henry Marion officiating.  Burial will be in South Mound Cemetery. Friends may call from 3 to 5 pm and 7 to 9 pm Tuesday at the funeral home.