I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.****Bennie Spencer Haley (June 13,1937 - October 8, 2006)

Sunday, October 22, 2006

My Dad was the Best of the Best. He got to read this letter 7 yrs ago. We read it at the funeral.


Thank you because you took the time






A letter for dad (merry Christmas)

Merry Christmas Dad, from me Scott (your eldest). I am writing this letter to you just to tell you Merry Christmas. This letter is my gift to you. Well now that I am creating it (your gift). I hope this letter turns out to be rewarding for you. The things I am going to talk about are already ours and have belonged to us since we created them together. I am going to make it official and hopefully a piece of work anybody can enjoy reading. I love you dad you are my hero. I will start by letting you knew that when you would call me and tell me this is old Santa Clause, I knew who I was talking to. Of course, I knew it was Santa. I truly believed it was Santa calling me to see if I have been naughty or nice and what I wanted for Christmas. That was serious moment when Santa called. It was a magical experience. Christmas time was always magical and although my friends said there was no Santa Clause, I was confident with the spirit that burned inside me. A truly

Real sense and feeling that I did not want to give up. The spirit of Santa Clause still appears every Christmas Eve. Santa Clause is real because he has evolved into a spirit those other believers and we, as parents will not let die. Thank you Dad for those wonderful Christmas times.

One Christmas I got a baseball glove and softball that was hard. The glove was a regent brand and it felt awkward on my left hand. You said that if I threw with my right hand then I should wear the glove on my left hand . I went with what you said but could not conceive how it would work on my left hand. Because you took the time to work with me in the back yard and play catch with me I became a good baseball player. Using my left hand turned out to start feeling good after we played catch almost everyday. I grew to be good at sports and sports have rewarded me tremendously. Thank you dad. I think I got a football that Christmas also.

These after school hotbox games, high pop flies, line drives and ground balls made me improve everyday, at the same time developing my identity. After I became too dangerous of a hitter to pitch to in the backyard, we would go to the backstops at Park- dale. You would pitch to me and usually a couple of my friends who noticed us having fun. Every one of my friends loves you and probably wished their father had been more like you. When you were not home, I was always counting down until the time you told me you would be home. You never failed to keep your word. I knew I could always count you in. the two times I remember being separated from you that were unbearable, were when you went to Philadelphia and when you had to stay during hurricane Allen. You made us (Mom, Dean and me) your life. Thank you for being so dedicated.

In my eyes, as I grew up I believed you were perfect, you could not and did not do wrong in my eyes. Now that I am an adult, I realize being perfect is unattainable but you are the greatest man I know. You being my father has made my life great. You set good examples and instilled values that allow me to rise above the unenlightened.

I want you to listen to the song by Randy Travis "He Walked on Water" because that is how I saw (see) you. Zac feels the same way about you also. Zac believes you walk on water.

Tributes to our Patriarch

We miss you so much paw paw!

you were the best!
By LeeAnn Haley. Posted on Oct 16, 2006


Ben Haley was one of the most decent person I have ever met. He loved his family very much. His Grandchildren and Grandchildren were his life. He will be missed by all.
By Cynthia Chodosh. Posted on Oct 16, 2006


So sorry for your loss. Love,Ronda Haley & Kristian Johnson
By Ronda Haley. Posted on Oct 16, 2006


Dad - you did your job well. You raised us, educated us, loved us as children and brought us up into adulthood to know what is important in life; that is being involved with your family and working hard to support them. We all miss you indefinately and continuously. The other day we were talking about you and the computer just went off - and you said you didn’t know how to turn one on and off. :) I know your spirit remains through each one of us and you will never be forgotten. Also, yesterday on the way to the cemetary did you hear that sound Choom --gulp, gulp ..... that was all of the cars we were passing up all of the cars. Don’t you know that was all of the cars being sucked down our exhaust pipe. :) LUV U

P.S. The military salute was great and the flag is moms consolation. Don’t worry about us - we will live in your shoes everyday.
By Dean Haley. Posted on Oct 14, 2006


Ben Haley was a great person. He was a kind and caring. He was sincere, compassionate and fair. He had a great wit and yet a real common sense kind of guy. He loved his family dearly and with out a doubt will be greatly missed by all who new him.
By Talbot Beall. Posted on Oct 14, 2006


I am Bennie's older brother, and bennie was only 8 years old when I went in the Army in 1945 and I never really went back home. Bennie was always a kind boy and seemed to be liked by his class mates and his favorite teacher Mrs. Shaw. We will miss him greatly and I wish I could be at the funeral.
By Charles Haley Jr.. Posted on Oct 12, 2006

Thursday, October 12, 2006

Bennie Spencer Haley Best of the Best Dad, Grandpa, Husband, Human Being. That's My Dad!

Bennie "Ben" Spencer Haley



On Sunday, October 8, 2006, Bennie Spencer Haley, 69, in spirit ascended to Heaven.

Ben enlisted in the U.S. Navy the day after his 17th birthday. He served on the USS Shangri-La, USS Midway and USS Saratoga. After serving 12 years through three different wars, he received his honorable discharge. He was recognized for serving his country with honor and devotion and answered the call through successful performance. Ben retired in 1998 as Director of Utilities at Naval Air Station Corpus Christi. He received several commendations and awards during the 42 years of federal service and provided an excellent example to those with whom he worked.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Charles Osa and Edna Spencer Haley of Choctaw, Oklahoma, four brothers, Tommy, Dennis, Mitchell and Jerry N. Haley and one sister Ottoma Haley Boevers.
He is survived by his wife of 43 years, Margaret Riffe Haley; sons, Anton Scott Haley (LeeAnn) and Gordon Dean Haley; two brothers, Charles (Doris) Haley, Chauncey (Lynn) Haley of Choctaw, Oklahoma; four grandchildren: Andrea Nicole, Anton Scott II, Brendan Andrew, Nathaniel Zacchaeus Haley and great grandchildren, Stephanie, Adam and Abel, many nieces and nephews and a host of friends.
Without a doubt, Ben Haley was most proud of his family and always put his family first. His love, unconditional, this kind of love that instilled confidence as a mainstay, a security blanket, and provider of family unity. He believed in his family. Simply put - you are the best Ben. Thank you, Grandpa.
Visitation will be from 1:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Thursday, October 12, 2006 and a funeral service at 3:30 p.m. Friday, October 13, 2006 at Maxwell P. Dunne Funeral Home. Interment to follow at Seaside Memorial Park.
Pallbearers are: Lee "Buddy" Montgomery, Jr., Steven Montgomery, Donald Hahn, Anton Scott Haley, II, Dwayne Hahn, Bobby Jack Saunders, John Eric Saunders, Jarrett Ursprung, and Jerry Haley.

Maxwell P. Dunne Funeral Home
1222 Morgan & 10th
884-2411