Patsy Ruth Haisley

Patsy Ruth Haisley, 93, passed peacefully on Sunday January 26 after suffering a broken femur in November 2024. She was born to Alice A. and James H. Nieman in Gas City, Indiana on August 21, 1931. She loved dancing and singing in her formative years and studied ballet and tap under Zyna Glad along with her sister Darlene. Both Patsy and Darlene worked as carhops at the original Marion Indiana A&W Rootbeer stand for Jim Pavonka in their early teens, then worked as candy stripers and phlebotomists for Marion General Hospital during high school. She married M. H. “Chick” Haisley on September 25,1949 and they operated several businesses together over the next 37 years including Haisley House Café, Yankee Motor Freight, and the Yankee Clipper Supper Club, while raising two sons. After Chick’s passing in 1986, she dedicated her time to family and friends and was an active member of the American Legion Auxiliary Post 10 in Marion.

She is survived by her two sons, Tom (Janet) Haisley of Marion; Bret Haisley of Indianapolis; granddaughter Tara Haisley of Jonesboro; niece Cynthia (Ed) Bates of Atlanta, Georgia; great-grandson Austin Haisley, great-granddaughter Zoey Haisley, and great-great grandson O’Conner Chance all of Gas City; great-nephew Jeb (Lindsay) Bates of Missoula, Montana; great-niece Leigh Bates of Denver, Colorado; daughter-in-law Bette Jarvis of Jonesboro; special friends Sheree Summers of Avon, Indiana; and Rick Van Atta of Indianapolis; along with several cousins, extended family and friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Chick; mother and father Alice (Gilbert) Belville, and James (Viola) Nieman; sisters Darlene (Jim) Hays, and Therese Ann (Vern) Magrum; brother James O. (Charlene) Nieman; niece Linda Kay Hays; grandson Heath Haisley; aunt and uncle Sally (John) Mann; and cousin Rosalie (Calvin) Londry.

Private services and internment will be held at a later date. If you feel so inclined, any donations can be made in Patsy’s name to the Alzheimer’s Association https://www.alz.org or to your local Humane Society.