Silver Dawn Van Wey

Silver Dawn Van Wey, 40, Hays, passed away unexpectedly on Monday, March 30th, 2026, at HaysMed in Hays, Kansas.

Silver was born in Beloit on August 25th, 1985, to Donald and Sandra Van Wey. She grew up in Downs, Kansas, with her parents and older sister, Sabrina (Hedding). Silver attended Downs High School, graduating in 2003 as part of the last Downs Dragon class.

She completed CNA training at age 16 and began working in the Osborne nursing home. After graduating from high school, she attended North Central Technical College in Beloit and completed her LPN license. She continued to work in various nursing homes in Osborne, Plainville, and Hays. She completed her RN license in 2016 through Colby Community College. She became a CNA/ CMA instructor at North Central Technical College in Hays in 2018. She continued her education by earning her Bachelor’s of Nursing through Grand Canyon University in 2022.

Silver moved to Plainville in 2004, where she began working at Redbud Village Nursing Home while attending North Central Technical College in Hays. Later in life, she moved in with her parents to assist in their care. They all moved to Hays in 2024 to be closer to her work. Silver continued to work as an instructor at North Central Technical College until her death.

She was preceded in death by her maternal grandparents, Robert and Betty (Staley) Eakin; paternal grandparents Robert and Wilma (Duncan) Van Wey; and several aunts, uncles, and cousins. However, her most joyous reunion would be at the rainbow bridge with Bridget, Axel, Coco, Sammy, Gizmo, and Eli.

She is survived by her parents, Donald and Sandra (Eakin) Van Wey; her sister, Sabrina (Van Wey) Hedding; her nephew, Theoden Hedding; and her niece, Eowyn Hedding.

Memorial Services and a Celebration of Silver's Life were held on Sunday, April 12, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at Fort Hays Tech | North Central - Hays Campus, Hays.

Memorials are suggested to Fort Hays Tech Nursing Program and/or The Humane Society of the High Plains, in care of the funeral chapel.

Cremation was under the direction of Keithley Funeral Homes and Crematory - Brock's Chapel, 2509 Vine Street, Hays, KS 67601.

Memories and words of comfort may be shared with Silver's family on her tribute page via: www. keithleyfuneralchapels. com