Ewing G. Haley's Obituary
Ewing Graves Haley, Jr. (97), of Collierville, TN, passed away on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, at the Baptist Reynolds Hospice House in Collierville. Ewing, known to family and friends as “Budge,” “Budgie,” “GranBudgie,” or simply “GB”, leaves behind his wife of 71 years, June Anderson Haley; two sons, Mark Alan Haley (Sheila) and Steven “Reid” Haley (Hope); six grandchildren, Chris (Lola), Scott (Danielle), Britt (Aubrey), Matt, Marc (Demi), and Ellen (Josh); and fifteen great-grandchildren.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Ewing Graves Haley and Frances Reid Hightower Haley, and, in 1965, by his beloved four-year-old daughter, Karen Lynn Haley, a loss he carried in his heart for the rest of his life.
A 1946 graduate of Messick High School in Memphis, TN, Ewing proudly joined the Marine Corps, becoming a World War II veteran. After his discharge, he attended the then Memphis State College, where he became a charter member of Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity, graduating with a degree in education in 1952. After a short time teaching, he accepted a temporary summer job with Chicago and Southern Air Lines, which later merged with Delta Air Lines. That “temporary” job grew into a 38-year career with Delta, where he worked as a supervisor in every department except Marketing and Aircraft Maintenance. At the time of his retirement, he served as a Ground Operations Supervisor and Senior Field Training Instructor.
Personally, Ewing considered himself fortunate to have lived an active and varied life. He earned his driver’s license at 16 and made his first solo flight at 17. He enjoyed water sports, worked as a lifeguard, coached swimming teams, drag-raced hot rods, and owned various British and Italian sports cars, as well as a few motorcycles. A devoted history buff, especially of the WWII era, he was proud collector of military artifacts and memorabilia. His love of classic films of the 1930s and 1940s was matched by his appreciation for big band music, classical, blues, and rock from the 1960s through the 1980s. He was a Mason, a 32nd Degree Scottish Rite Mason, and a Shriner.
As technology evolved, he often described himself as “an analog guy in a digital world, who exists in the present but dwells in the past.” His one-of-a-kind wit, humor, and ability to keep loved ones guessing what he might say next will be greatly missed.
The family extends heartfelt gratitude to the staff at Baptist Memorial Hospital–Collierville and Baptist Reynolds Hospice House in Collierville for their steadfast and tender care.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to LeBonheur Children’s Hospital, 848 Adams Avenue, Memphis, TN 38103, or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105..
Services for Ewing will be held on Tuesday, February 3, 2026 at 11:00am in the Fireside Chapel. The family will receive family and friends for visitation an hour prior to the service starting at 10:00am.
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