Jackie "Jack" Lynn Haley

“Welcome home soldier. Rest now, my child” that's what Jackie Lynn Haley of Amarillo heard Sunday 1/8/23. We always joked that he knew everyone, so how amazing it must be for him to walk the heavenly streets and truly know all of his new brothers and sisters, reuniting with past family and friends.

Born 1/19/46 to Leslie and Ellie Haley, Jack, along with his brothers Les and Art, wreaked havoc in the streets of Azle TX. After graduating from Wolfe City High School, he followed his brothers in answering the call to serve his country and joined the Army in 1964. For 7 years he served as a medic, making a difference and saving lives. In 1971, after receiving multiple accolades and medals for a job well done, he came back stateside to his high school sweetheart. He then turned to the cowboy life: herding cattle, birthing calves, breaking horses, and bailing hay. He loved this new job and uniform of boots and jeans, dirt and sweat from a hard day's work. Even when he had to mend the fences his girls drove through! However, his greatest love was his family. He spent 56 years trying to keep up with Susan, that high school sweetheart he came home to, the love of his life. He was the best husband, and most patient father to Sonja, Tonya, and Nicole, and the best gramps in the world to Jerrad, Haley, Ashton, Kenzie, and Syd, and the greatest great gramps to Lilith, Jaxson, Aubrey, and Kayson. Dad, you and your shenanigans, our adventures, will be forever treasured and greatly missed. You were ever-present in each of our lives and you never missed an opportunity to show support…or be a partner in crime. Like when we would play hooky from job hunting to shoot pool or when you, Shane, and Troy rearranged the Christmas deer in the front yard…Mom was not impressed! You were one of the loudest cheerleaders at all of our games and the greatest playmate in the backyard. You were always ready with goofy voices or silly antics to put smiles on our faces. Or sharing your words of wisdom in various languages…did you really know Swahili? And how did you get the base commander to gift you 2 challenge coins at Ashton’s Air Force graduation? We never knew what story you were going to tell when you found a new friend! And now you have all those fresh ears…those poor souls!!!! Those never-ending stories are another thing we will miss. You never met a stranger and were always there, ready to lend a hand, no matter what or for whom. We could always count on you to listen, to guide, and to catch us when we fell. Thank you for instilling in us the importance of family, a firm handshake, and that respect and honor go hand in hand. And also to “never say you're sorry, it's a sign of weakness, per John Wayne”. We can only imagine the smiles on the face of your parents, Sonja, Tonya, Troy, and uncle Art as you walked through those gates. I bet the cheers were loud and their arms flung wide waiting to embrace you again. Hold them a second longer for us and save us a place. For now, we will hold fiercely to your life lessons, questionable wisdom, unconditional love, and each beautiful memory until we see you again…until it is our turn to hear “welcome home”.

Preceded in death by parents, Leslie and Ellie Haley, daughters Sonja Haley and Tonya Main, Son in Law Troy Main, and brother Art Haley. Survived by wife Susan Haley, daughter and husband Nicole and Shane Hardin, grandchildren Jerrad, Haley, Ashton, Mackenzie, and Sydney, great-grandchildren Lillith, Jaxson, Aubrey, and Kayson