Mrs. Margaret Faye Higgins Hayes-Ryan, 87, of Murfreesboro, Tennessee passed away
on Monday, March 23, 2026. She was born at home in Woodbury on Sunday, April 17,
1938 to her loving parents Jesse "Doc" and Sammie Davenport Higgins.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Michael Ryan;
son, David Hayes; and sisters, Betty "Jean" Bise and Joyce Alexander. She is survived
by her daughter, Rhonda (Michael) Carroll-Boner of Hermitage; grandsons, Ryan Carroll
and Wesley Hayes; great granddaughter, Savannah Carroll; and caregivers, Kathryn
McElroy and Brittany Irvin.
A woman of many names, Margaret learned to answer to just about anything, but she
made her name her own with Faye. Born and raised in Woodbury just after the grips of
the Great Depression, Faye still learned how to do with just the simple pleasures in life.
That mindset was engrained into her entire generation, and faith and family stood at the
center of her life.
Now, Faye wasn't like the other girls. While they were at home cooking and cleaning,
she was on the road or on the court. There was nothing better than going with her
daddy in his truck to livestock sales. He was her world as a child, and she adored him
like only a daddy's girl can. If she wasn't loaded up with livestock and Doc, then Faye
had a knack for getting out on the basketball court. She enjoyed playing during her
school years until love swept her away.
Though she started at Woodbury Central High School, Faye left her junior year and
ended up graduating from a high school in Delaware. Following her love in the Air
Force, she was ready to brave any adventure but found herself frozen with their two
blessings, David and Rhonda, in Ft. Walton Beach, FL.
At the mercy of the Air Force and her husband deployed to Vietnam, Faye kept the cold
of their situation from creeping in and let warmth pervade her household. Going back to
her roots, Faye tried to make old fashioned memories with her children. Rhonda
remembers cooking just about anything together, and Faye definitely held on to her
passion for sports. Cheers from basketball and football fans were the background music
of their childhood, and Faye reserved a special place in her heart for the University of
Tennessee.
When sports weren't on, Faye kept the good times rolling watching game shows or just
by keeping her kids on their toes. She was a spitfire with no filter and would tell exactly
how things were. It served her well running her household alone, but sometime after her
husband returned after 3 tours in Vietnam, they made the mutual decision to part ways.
Faye made a beeline back for Tennessee, and the kids enjoyed summers playing in the
creek at Papa and Granny's house. Using her bluntness and thick skin to her
advantage, Faye took the secretary position at the Rutherford County Sheriff's

Department, working with the Detective Division. Throughout her life, she tried to stick
to her raising and kept faith and family central in her life.
Being introduced to her future husband, Michael Ryan, by mutual friends in October
1990, Faye decided to take her time on committing to giving love another chance.
Michael eventually wore her down, and they were wed on January 5, 2009.
Unfortunately, Michael's health failed, and they only enjoyed just over a year of marriage
together before his passing. But Faye endured the hardship by knowing which ship her
heart was truly anchored to.
Through every trial and tribulation, Faye held firm and stood strong because the armor
of God protected her front, leaving God to watch her back. She attended Kingwood
Church of Christ and continued to grow in her faith there. As her own health began to
fail, Faye enjoyed visits from her children, grandchildren, and great granddaughter
along with the company of her faithful caregivers.
Graveside services will be held at Riverside Cemetery on Saturday, March 28, 2026 at 2
pm with a visitation beforehand from 1-2 pm at Riverside Cemetery. Jerry Sawyer will
officiate.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Kingwood Church of Christ or the
American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
Share memories and condolences at www.gentrysmithfuneralhome.com Gentry-Smith
Funeral Home, 303 Murfreesboro Rd. Woodbury, TN 37190, 615-563-5337 Because
every life has a story