Obit of Haley, Wilbur Eugene "Gene" - Pottawatomie County, Oklahoma

Submitted by:  Gene Phillips  <okarchives@comcast.net>    18 Nov 2007
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::Cremated

Haley, Wilbur Eugene "Gene"

Former Santa Cruz resident, Wilbur Eugene "Gene" Haley, 80, died 
September 22, 2006 at the Conejos County Hospital in La Jara, 
Colorado. He passed peacefully after complications from an emergency 
surgery.

Gene was born July 27, 1926 in Shawnee, Oklahoma, the son of Loyd and 
Alta Beierschmidt Haley. He married Bertha Gertrude Vergeer in 
Fresno, California on September 11, 1949.

Gene worked as an auto General Sales Manager and foster parent in 
Fresno. He bought his own car dealership in Santa Cruz and moved the 
family here in 1970. In Santa Cruz he later founded and operated 
Haley's Community Group Home, where he was a father-figure and mentor 
to many for over twenty years. He moved to La Jara in 1997 where he 
farmed with his daughter and son-in-law for the next seven years. 
Gene served as a Board Member of Plaza Del Sol in La Jara for 
approximately three years.

Gene had a love of driving. He was known for driving his car 
everywhere to spend time with his family and friends who he loved 
visiting. He also enjoyed driving the tractors on his daughter's 
farm.

His hobbies were cooking, deep-sea fishing, duck and goose hunting, 
camping, bowling, golfing, and gardening. Gene also enjoyed watching 
sports, especially baseball and football, and his favorite evening 
television program was the game show "Who Wants to Be A 
Millionaire." He impressed us all with his ability to do everything 
in spite of the loss of his left arm at a very young age. He was a 
wonderful role model and father. His children will always be proud of 
his accomplishments and miss him so much.

He is survived by his good friend and companion Mary Janette Rathburn 
of La Jara; his children Karen Dr. Colin Henderson of La Jara, 
Christine Billy Burns Haley of Austin, TX, David Cathy Haley of 
Phoenix, AZ, and Cathy the late Brad Johnson of Santa Cruz; his 
grandchildren Theresa Terry Easton Same of Atlanta, GA, Lisa Sevin 
Golden of Austin, TX, Marcia Haley of Santa Cruz, Mark Haley of 
Seattle, WA, Brian Nichole Johnson of Gardnerville, NV, and Brooke 
Johnson of Santa Cruz; his great-grandchildren Bailey, Kiley, Cali, 
and "Baby" Golden; his brother Ralph Haley of the San Joaquin Valley 
and Leroy Haley of Fresno.

His parents, his wife, and his two sisters Eva Haley and Jane Butler 
all preceded him in death.

Cremation was chosen and a private family service will be held this 
weekend on the beach in Santa Cruz. In lieu of flowers, contributions 
are suggested to Hospice del Valle in care of the funeral home 
office., Rogers Family Mortuary, 205 State Ave., of Alamosa, CO 81101

www.legacy.com/santacruzsentinel

Published in the Santa Cruz Sentinel on 2/3/2007.
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