Billie Gerald

Haley

Billie Gerald Haley of Sweetwater passed away peacefully Friday, October 21, 2022.

A memorial service will be held Friday, October 28, 2022, at 2:00 P.M. at Broadway Baptist Church preceded by a visitation at 1:00 P.M. at the church. Rev. Daniel Stovall will officiate the services directed by McCoy Funeral Home.

Billie (known as Bill) was born July 29, 1934, in Fort Worth, Texas to Willie Andrew Haley and Beulah Pennington Haley. Bill finished high school in Paris, Texas and attended Paris Junior College. After living and working for several years in Abilene, Bill joined the Sweetwater Kiwanis Club on December 29, 1956, and moved to Sweetwateron January 1, 1957. He was a member of the Kiwanis club for more than 60 years, serving as president and lieutenant governor, and achieving Lifetime Membership status as well as a George F. Hixson award.

On December 24, 1959, Bill married Wanda Sue Burklow and together they had a daughter Debra and a son Michael. Bill and Sue owned and operated Flower Fashions and Gifts and Local Loan. On March 13, 1972, Bill opened Local Loan and Pawn Shop which still exists in its 50 th year as well as ten other pawn shops around Texas. Bill's other business ventures included Haley's Comet Fireworks, Rent & Real Estate, New Millennium Consulting, Michael's Music, and Gems-N-Gold Jewelry. Bill had a lifelong love of cars and had an amazing collection of antique automobiles. He was a licensed pilot who flew his own planes.

On July 16, 1983, Bill married Donna Barham and acquired four stepchildren (Jerry, Belinda, Melanie, and Darryl). They remained married for 39 years until his passing. He was a member of Broadway Baptist Church.

Bill proudly served as president of the Sweetwater Chamber of Commerce and served on the Sweetwater Industrial Development Board recruiting businesses to Sweetwater and was part of the committee responsible for having Sweetwater named as an All-American City. Bill served on the boards of Texas Finance Institute, Texas Pawnbrokers Association, Texas Association of Pawnbrokers, and the National Pawnbrokers Association.

Bill is survived by his loving wife, Donna; daughter Debra Roche (Bill); son Michael Haley; stepsons Jerry Hampton (Susan) and Darryl Hampton; stepdaughters Belinda Poindexter and Melanie Gifford (Carroll); sister Patsy Hutson (Al); ten grandchildren and nineteen great-grandchildren. Bill will be missed by his family and friends and by his community as well.