Willie Haley

1928 - 2018

Willie Arthur Haley
February 14, 1928-November 22, 2018
Willie Arthur Haley went home to be with the Lord on November 22, 2018, at the age of 90. He was born to Ernest Arthur Haley and Hattie Houston Haley in the small town of Marble, Arkansas. He met the love of his life, Eva Iola Haley, in Arkansas and they were married on August 27, 1949. They moved to California in 1950 and eventually settled in Livingston, California.
His hobbies included gardening, fishing, crossword puzzles, walking, camping, and when he was younger you could find him mowing the lawn at the family church or working on church finances. He was a deacon at the First Southern Baptist Church in Winton, California until his retirement as "Deacon Emeritus" on October 22, 2017. He believed in God and attended church services until recently, when his health declined.
He served in the US Army in World War II and the Korean Conflict, serving in Italy, France, Austria, and Korea. Willie, better known as Bill, retired from the Merced County Fire Department in 1979, after 30 years of service as a fireman, retiring as the Assistant Chief. After retirement he accompanied his wife Iola to Arkansas to care for her father until his passing. They moved back to California to be near their grandchildren, finally settling in Atwater, California.
Willie was preceded in death by his wife, his parents, and 11 sisters.
Willie is survived by two sisters, Ella Martinez of Atwater, California, Ethel Dill of Rogersville, Missouri; four daughters, Anita Haley of Gresham, Oregon; Lisa Randall of Sebastopol, California; Teresa Haley (Richard) of Atwater, California; and Renee Gibson (Scott) of Atwater, California; eight grandchildren, Kiersten Huggett of Gresham, Oregon; Cory Vaughn of Portland, Oregon; Chris Hispsher(Mikel) of Seattle, Washington, Amanda Warren (Jeremy) of Bothell, Washington; Jennifer Martin (Patrick) of Santa Rosa, California; Aaron Bettis (Angeline) of Merced, California; Matthew Bettis (Amanda) of Merced, California; Katelyn Aguilar (Oscar) of Hillsboro, Oregon; and nine great-grandchildren, Jordan Huggett of Amarillo, Texas; Trey Huggett of Gresham, Oregon; Emersen Warner of Gresham, Oregon; Archer Bettis of Merced, California; Aubrie Bettis of Merced, California; Colt Bettis of Merced, California; Oskar Aguilar of Hillsboro, Oregon; Natalie Akins of Merced, California, and Noah Akins of Merced, California.
A celebration of life will be held at a later date.
Arrangements are being handled by Wilson Family Funeral Chapel. Burial will be private.
Our family would like to thank Hinds Hospice and his caretakers for such loving care at the end of our father's life. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to Hinds Hospice, 410 W. Main St., Suite A, Merced, CA 95340.
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