Charles Howard Haley, Jr.

Charles Howard Haley, Jr. passed away on October 25, 2021, of complications from COVID. Charles was born July 23, 1953, in Alexandria, Louisiana, with that signature ginger hair that gave rise to the nickname “Red.” His parents, Charles and Bertie Haley knew he was going to be trouble when he refused to assume the correct birthing position and instead insisted on being delivered feet first.

Charles’s first best friend and partner in crime was his sister, Mary Alice. Once they decided to run away from home by hiding in the ditch across the street from their house. Charles heard their mother calling them for dinner, and with his stomach growling, said, “We better go home. Mom will be mad if we miss dinner.” Thus ended their brief life on the lam.

Charles graduated from Lufkin High School, despite his insistence that he “didn’t know why he needed a high school diploma’’ as he was “just going to be a farmer.” Mother’s response was that he was “going to be a farmer with a high school diploma.” In actuality, he went to work for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, and after forty years of service, retired in 2015.

Charles’s driving skills were legendary. Who else could get away with towing his father two miles on a riding mower at 30 miles an hour, waving and smiling in the rearview mirror as Dad clung for dear life to the mower steering wheel? And who else could have driven a VW Beetle through Mill Creek, water creeping up the windshield until it was gurgling overhead; and then with the gas pedal to the floor, raced out the other side?

In 2017, he married the love of his life, Delvin Pacampara Haley. They built a home together in Rusk, Texas, and made Central Baptist Church in Jacksonville their church home. Charles and Delvin enjoyed many road trips all over Texas and Louisiana with their fur baby, J.R. Charles enjoyed cooking and was always excited to share a new recipe or photos of his latest dishes.

Charles’s easy laughter and bear hugs will be sorely missed by all those he leaves behind. He is survived by his wife, Delvin Haley; his daughter, Britni Haley; his mother, Bertie Hoosier Haley; a sister and brother-in-law, Mary Haley Trim and Kenneth Trim; a sister and brother-in-law, Jennifer Haley-Faucon and Serge Faucon, and many nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Visitation will be from 5 PM to 7 PM Thursday, October 28, at Autry Funeral Home, 1025 Southwest Loop 456, Jacksonville, TX 75766. Graveside service will be at 10 AM Friday, October 29, at Still Waters Memorial Garden, 1025 Southwest Loop 456, Jacksonville, TX 75766.