Minnie was the daughter of Wiley and Sarah Jane (Donelly) Petree.

When she was eleven years old, she was taken in by Prairie Ann (Howard) and Jess Drake Buzan. They had no children, but raised Minnie as their own. Minnie lived with them until she married Charlie Hays.

On 18 OCT 1897, Minnie married Charles Harden Hays. They never had any children, but raised Nettie Mae Jones as their own daughter. Nettie's mother died the day after her 1st birthday. Charlie and Minnie never formerly adopted Nettie because her father could not bear to give her up. Charlie and Nettie also helped, for about 10 years, to raise Lena Hays (daughter of Isola (Lewis) and David Peter Hays), after Lena's father died when she was 6 years old.

Charlie and Minnie's "daughter of the heart" (Nettie Mae (Jones) Garber) is buried next to them (Find A Grave Memorial# 52248086).

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The following article about Charlie and Minnie's 50th wedding anniversary hosted by Nettie Mae was in the Versailles, Missouri newspaper:

"Another milestone has been passed by Mr. and Mrs. Charles H. Hays, 2431 Jefferson St., Berkeley, Calif., who have completed the first half century of married life together. Their golden wedding anniversary was celebrated recently at an open house given by the Milton Garbers', 723 Stannage Ave., Albany. Mrs. Garber is one of their two foster-daughters, the other being Mrs. Lena Bryant of Kansas City, Mo.

More than 150 friends called during the afternoon to wish the couple many happy returns of the day. Relatives present included two of Mr. Hays' brothers, Joseph A., of Berkeley, and Ed Hays of Oakland; a sister, Mrs. Betty Lehman and a sister-in-law, Mrs. Del Hays, also of Berkeley.

Married 50 years ago in Tipton, Mo., the Hays' spent most of their married life in Missouri, where Mr. Hays engaged in farming. When he retired six years ago they moved to Berkeley. Now he engages in farming on a small scale, having taken over a neighboring lot where he has proved that a farmer understands how to get the most out of the soil.

Both Mr. and Mrs. Hays are 72, hale, hearty and active with a zest for living, and a desire to keep u with this modern world.

The Garber home was attractively decorated with gold chrysanthemums. At seven o'clock there was a buffet supper for members of the family. The table was lovely with gold and white appointments. Mrs. Irene Schlosser sang two of the Hays' favorite songs, "Smiling Through" and "Gray Bonnet."