Missena Hayes wears many hats—wife, mother, physical therapist, volunteer, and unwavering supporter of her daughters’ dreams. A proud mom to three daughters, Missena has spent the last several years juggling work, family life, and a packed sports schedule. Now, as two of her daughters prepare to leave for college on softball scholarships, she reflects on the joy, the challenges, and the incredible journey they’ve shared.
Her oldest daughters, Riley and Maci, graduated in 2024 and 2025, and are both headed to college this fall to play softball. Her youngest daughter, Makenna, will be a freshman at Altus High School and plays both softball and basketball while also competing on the travel softball circuit year-round. Missena has been married to her best friend, Ryan Hayes, for 22 years, and together they’ve built a home focused on love, faith, and hard work.
By day, Missena is a dedicated physical therapist at Jackson County Memorial Hospital, where she’s worked for over two decades. But in the evenings and on weekends, you’ll often find her at a field or gym—camera in hand—cheering on her daughters. Whether she’s organizing team snacks, shooting game footage, helping with team concessions, or encouraging coaches from the sidelines, Missena is always ready to lend a hand.
Like many working moms, Missena admits the balancing act isn’t always easy. “It’s tough trying to be at everything while still taking care of responsibilities at work and home,” she says. “Making sure my kids stay on top of their academics while still having time to be kids—that’s the real challenge.”
Missena and her husband emphasize keeping their daughters grounded in faith, focused on academics, and committed to their future goals. “Those things,” she says, “will always take them further than sports ever will.”
Missena is now helping launch a new softball booster club at Altus, another sign of her dedication to supporting not just her own kids but the entire team. Though Altus wasn’t originally home, 21 years later, it certainly feels like it. She’s proud to be part of a community that’s growing and thriving, just like the family she’s raised in it..
