Thomas Halsey

PRINCETON – Thomas Lee Halsey, 84, of Princeton, died Tuesday, July 9, 2013 at Princeton Community Hospital with all of his family with him. Born December 4, 1928 at Pineville, he was the son of the late Coy Halsey and Brookie Tilley Halsey. Mr. Halsey was a 1947 graduate of Spanishburg High School. He served in the U.S. Army for three years. He worked 35 years as a tipple operator for Kitchekan Mines at Arista and was a member of the UMWA. After retirement, he and his wife were babysitters for Chad and Jason McKinney. After getting them to school age, their next blessing was meeting the Branson family, with the greatest joy the last 25 years taking care of Sara, Jarrod and Nick. He was a member of Princeton First Christian Church and a previous member for 45 years at First Christian Church in Matoaka, where he served as elder for many years. He loved serving the Lord and his family. He enjoyed the many family and friend dinner/get-togethers and spending time with his grandchildren and following their sports, WVU football and basketball. He was a gentle, kind, soft-spoken man who made an impact on so many family and friends with his loving ways. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by four siblings, Den Halsey, Eldon Halsey, Leona Alvis and Garnet Crotty. Survivors include his wife of 60 years, Cleo Farley Halsey; two daughters, Deb Halsey-Hunter and her husband Geoff and Teresa Milam and her husband John all of Princeton; one son, Tim Halsey and his wife Tammy of Salem, VA; seven grandchildren, John Milam, Jr. and his wife Tina of Wendell, NC, Melanie Blankenship of Perry, GA, Codie Milam-Torres of Princeton, Ryn Wolford and her husband Chris of Wytheville, VA, Sara Branson of Winston-Salem, NC, Jarrod Branson of Princeton and Nick Branson of Princeton; two step-grandchildren, Krysten Garlick and her husband Zack and Taylor White all of Roanoke, VA; four great-grandchildren, Justin Milam, Danica Wolford, Gabryella Vera and Alexandria Milam-Torres; and special friends, who were like family, Phil and Cyndy Branson of Princeton. Funeral services will be conducted at 7:00 p.m. Thursday, July 11, 2013 at the Rowland H. Bailey Funeral Chapel of the Bailey-Kirk Funeral Home in Princeton with the Rev. Bill Pollack and the Rev. Craig Hammond officiating. A graveside service will be conducted at 11:00 a.m. Friday, July 12, 2013at Roselawn Memorial Gardens in Princeton. Family and friends attending the service are asked to meet at the Bailey-Kirk Funeral Home in Princeton at 10:45 a.m. Serving as pallbearers will be Phil Branson, Jarrod Branson, Nick Branson, Weldon McKinney, Kenneth Gillespie and John Milam, Jr. Honorary pallbearers will be Mike Foley, Dwight Miller and Kenneth Reeves. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the First Christian Church, P.O. Box 749, Princeton, WV 24740. The family will receive friends Thursday, July 11, 2013 from 5:00 p.m. until service hour at the Bailey-Kirk Funeral Home in Princeton. To view a video tribute to Mr. Halsey, or send the family online condolences, please visit www.bailey-kirk.com. Click here to view a video tribute to Mr. Halsey.

Tributes

Thomas Halsey

July 9, 2013