Dr. Curtis Richard Haley Sr.

Born in San Augustine, TX on January 15, 1926. He lived a rich and full life for over 90 years until his re-birth on September 19, 2016, whereupon he was taken to be with his Heavenly Father. Dr. Haley was born during the roaring '20s, raised through the Great Depression and served in the Navy during WWII in the South Pacific Theater. From an educational standpoint, he graduated from San Augustine High School in 1943, attended the University of Texas for his undergraduate studies, and Baylor College of Medicine for his medical studies. He married the love of his life in 1953, Mary Jean Gann Haley. They raised 8 children: Colleen Hakey Pickard, Curtis Richard Haley Jr., Charles Victor Haley, Celia Haley Marshburn, Cherylea Haley Hayes, Cleve Bradford Haley, Clayton Harvery Haley, and Mollie Haley Ethington. Given the premium he placed upon education, Dr. Haley made sure that all his children were college educated and reared in a Christian home. He practiced medicine in San Augustine until he was 80 years of age. His practice consisted of Family Practice, General Surgery, Orthopaedics and Obstetrics/Gynecology. During his medical practice, he delivered thousands of babies, including his own children and some of his grandchildren. His practice took him into the homes of many of his patients and left him in their heart to be remembered as a compassionate care giver and skilled medical practitioner. He is remembered by many of his patients as their greatest confidant and friend because of the unique relationship and journey he shared with them during various stages of their lives. The practice of medicine was the greatest professional reward he could imagine because of the people with whom he shared it, I.E. his patients and professional colleagues. While many knew him because of his beloved chosen profession of medicine, his family and friends knew him as a Christian man who would do anything for those whom he loved. His loyalty and willingness to do anything and everything for his family and friends was unwavering and never questioned. He believed that his family and friends were his greatest assets and he treated them as his most prized possessions. However, everyone knew that his crown jewel was his wife and mother of his children, Mary Jean Haley. He often said she was the finest women he ever knew and never could understand how he could be so lucky. They celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary ib June 2, 2016, and he still had that special twinkle in hhis eye for his special "girl." Dr. Haley experienced life from many perspectives, whether he was picking cotton for 10 cents a bale, delivering newspapers via his bicycle, handing out fliers at the August movie theater, sweeping and cleaning at Rushing's Drug Store, hitch hiking to Austin for college, delivering calves on his ranch, performing surgery in someone's home, singing in the church choir, or holding his great-grandchildren and look at life through their eyes. He always believed that he could do anything because he would never quit and you can never be beaten if you keep trying. Perseverance was a defining trait in every aspect of his life and he loved to challenge himself. While he experienced many wonderful things throughout his life as member of the San Augustine Lion's Club for 63 years, the Masons for 62 years, a Shriner for more than 50 years, a member of First United Methodist Church in San Augustine for his entire life, a participating as a Golden Gloves Boxer in the Navy; nothing could compare to the experience he had as a medical missionary in Bolivia in 1962. During this mission trip, he experienced a religious epiphany which changed his life and molded him in the fine Christian man everyone knew. Dr. Haley experienced the fullness and richness of a life well lived. He was preceded in death by his father and mother, Dr. Charles Raymond and Clara Belle Haley; brother, Charles Raymond Haley Jr. and sister, Christine Haley. He is sruvived by his wife, Mary Jean Gann Haley; daughter, Colleen Haley Pickard and husband, Tommy, and their children Caleb, Collette, Casey, and Calan; son, Curtis Richard Haley Jr., and wife, Kathie, and their children, Trey, Cici, Hunter, and Sam; son, Charles Victor Haley and wife, Coraline, and their children, Catherine, Charles, William, and Grace; daughter, Celia Haley Marshburn and husband, Mike, and their, children, Cole and Mila; daughter, Cherylea Haley Hayes and husband, Randy, and their children, Mikhail, Connor, and Cameron; son, Cleve Bradford Haley; son, Clayton Harvey Haley and wife, Connie, and their children, Hollin and Mitchell; and daughter Mollie Haley Ehtington and husband, Monte, and their children, Micha, Madeline, McKenna and Maggie; as well as 10 great-grnadchildren. Funeral for Dr. Curtis Richard Haley Sr. will be at 3 p.m. Thursday, September 22, 2016, at First United Methodist Church, San Augustine, with the Rev. Martin Doran and Dr. Gordan Jones officiating. Burial will be in Hillcreast Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m., Wednesday, September 21, 2016, at Wyman Roberts Memorial Chapel.