OBITUARY - HOLIDAY HYDE HAYLEY, Coke County, TX
Died 25 May 1926 - Buried Clyde, TX

Submitted by Mary Love Berryman - marylove@tyler.net

H. H. ("Uncle Holliday") Hayley was born in Mississippi June 14, 1848, 
grew to manhood in that State.  At the age of 14 he volunteered, and 
joined the Confederate Army and stood firm at his post of duty until 
the close of the war.  He was a typical Southerner, always willing to 
get under the burdens of life and share them with his fellow comrads.

In 1867 he was married to Miss Elizabeth Bailey.  To this union were 
born nine children, four of whom preceded him to the great beyond.

Only last summer Brother Hayley attended the Old Soldiers Reunion at 
Atlanta and met a number of his old comrades of early life.  A few days 
after his return home, in conversation with this writer he said "well, 
I attended the Reunion and met many of my old time friends, but when 
the roll call was made it seemed that there were but a few of us left.  
I will never attend another reunion here on this earth, for my health 
will not permit, but it will not be long until I will attend the reunion 
where parting never comes."

Brother Hayley came to Texas in 1879, settling in Coleman county in 1882.  
He came to Coke county, settling in the Hayrick community, in 1889.  He 
helped to organize Coke county and lived in this county until about 8 
years ago when he moved to Clyde, Texas, where he spent his last days.

He helped to organize a Prayer Circle among men of Clyde which was always 
a source of joy to him.  He was loyal to the church, benevolent in spirit, 
kind and affectionate to all.  He was humble in spirit always giving his 
companion credit for all the good in his life.  He contributed of his 
means to the building of almost all the churches and school houses in 
Coke county and his home was always open to the pastors and visiting 
preachers. He belonged to the Methodist church and to the I.O.O.F.  
To both he was loyal and true.

Two or three weeks ago he and Sister Hayley visited their son, W. L. 
Hayley, at Norton, and it was there that his spirit went out to God 
who gave it.  And on Tuesday afternoon we carried his body to Clyde, 
Texas, for burial.

Funeral services were held in the Methodist Church and conducted by the 
President of the Prayer Circle of that place.  His Pastor, Brother 
Ellis, H. Poteat of Norton, this writer and many of his friends of 
the Prayer Circle had part in the service.  The floral offering was 
something great.  He leaves to mourn his departure his companion of 
youth who has been so faithful and courageoues all these years, two 
sons, W. L. Hayley of Norton, A. R. Hayley of Hayrick, three daughters, 
Mrs. Lottie McMullin of Rogers, Arkansas, Mrs. Lula Peeler and Mrs. 
Annie Wilkins of Clyde, Texas.

Weep not dear friends, for he is not dead, but has only gone on to be 
in closer union with his Lord.

"The dead are like the stars by day.
Withdrawn from mortal eye,
But not extinct, they hold their sway
In glory through the sky:
Spirits from bondage thus set free,
Vanish amidst immensity,
Where human thought like human sight,
Fails to pursue their trackless sight."

The poet expressed the thoughts of the last days of Bro. Hayley when 
he wrote:

"I'm fading away to the land of the blest,
Like the last lingering hour of the even';
My warfare is finished, the battle is won--
To a crown and a throne I aspire.
The world is fast sinking away from my sight;
A trifle appear all its treasures,
I see them from hence by eternity's light--
How vanish its pomp and its pleasures;
How faint are the notes of the trumpets of fame,
When I'm on my pilgrimage to a land I shall gain.
W. E. Anderson

(Source unknown - newspaper article found in Ethel Pearce Hayley's 
scrapbook.  Probably the San Angelo Standard Times or Coke County 
Observer.)

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