Seward Miles "Mike" Haight Jr.

HAIGHT, Seward Miles "Mike" Jr.
90, of Beverly, MA, formerly of Towanda and Troy, PA, passed away August 20, 2008 at Ledgewood Rehabilitation and Skilled Nursing Center, Beverly, MA, following a lengthy illness. Mike was born June 9, 1918 in Mountain Lake, Bradford County, PA. He was the seventh child of nine born to Ethel and Seward M. Haight Sr. At the age of five he moved with his family to Luther's Mills, where he attended elementary school. He attended Troy High School and graduated in 1936. During his lifetime he owned a dairy farm, a restaurant, and later in his career he raised and raced standard bred horses. Mike is known for his ownership of Indian Trail Restaurant, a popular place with the locals in Towanda, PA, during the late 1950's and early 60's. Mike was a sports enthusiast and his restaurant catered to the Bradford County high schools' sports teams. He also followed the Wyalusing sports teams, where he enjoyed watching his two sons participate in wrestling. After selling the restaurant business in 1964, he turned his part-time hobby of racing standard bred horses into a full-time business. Mike proclaimed working with the horses afforded him the most satisfying work of his lifetime. During his racing career he traveled from Maine to Florida. He had two hundred seventy-five wins and numerous places and shows. After many years of racing and training, he sold his horses and worked as a Paddock Judge in raceways in Ohio and Florida. As Mike's health began to fail he moved to Massachusetts to live with his daughter, Judy, and later entered Ledgewood Skilled Nursing Center. Mike is survived by his daughter, Judy Manchester of Rockport, Massachusetts; a son, Gene Haight and his wife, Doreen of Horseheads, NY; grandchildren, Jeff Haight, Warren Center, PA, Rae Lynne Powell Stephenson, Athens, PA, Lesha Haight, Warren Center, PA, Brett Powell, Centerville, PA, Michael Haight, Rockville, VA, Philip Haight, Phoenix, AZ, and Matt Manchester, Austin, TX. He has 11 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild. He is survived by a sister, Anna and her husband, Robert Perry of Sayre, PA; a sister, Doris Morris of Wellsburg, NY; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by a son, Jerry in 1987. He was also preceded by brothers, Carl, Merle, Vern, Robert and Floyd; and a sister, Helen. A memorial service will be held Friday, August 29, 2008, at 3 p.m. at the Maryott-Bowen Funeral Home, 217 York Ave., Towanda, PA. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Mike's memory to a charity of one's choice.