For those of you that knew Harold, I think we all agree that he will be so greatly missed! Harold was one of my all time favorite people. We worked together in Master Gardeners! He will be so greatly missed!
HAROLD L. HENLEY 1928-2013
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On Tuesday, January 15, 2013, Rockport lost one of its most beloved, debonair bachelors, and “all round man about town,” Harold L. Henley, after a long battle with cancer. He was 84 years young.
He was born in Dallas, on July 6, 1928 to his three older siblings, Stacy Quincy (S.Q.), Marie, and Mildred, and their parents, Walter and Minna Henley.
Harold attended Adamson High School in Dallas where he graduated as his class vice president in 1945. No doubt a title that was fitting for his personality. In 1947 he met and married the mother of his three children, Gary, Beverly and Donald. In 1954 he joined the Dallas Police Department and attended night classes at SMU while pursuing his career in Law Enforcement. Harold’s family and friends always enjoyed his tales of all the years he spent on the Dallas Police force. Including the historic events of the Kennedy assassination that took place in Dallas.
Having spent many of his youthful summers on the beaches of Corpus with his family, and most of his adult free time and vacations in Port Aransas, it was only natural that in 1975 after retiring from the Dallas Police Dept, he chose to move to Port Aransas and begin the next chapter in his life.
He was born in Dallas, on July 6, 1928 to his three older siblings, Stacy Quincy (S.Q.), Marie, and Mildred, and their parents, Walter and Minna Henley.
Harold attended Adamson High School in Dallas where he graduated as his class vice president in 1945. No doubt a title that was fitting for his personality. In 1947 he met and married the mother of his three children, Gary, Beverly and Donald. In 1954 he joined the Dallas Police Department and attended night classes at SMU while pursuing his career in Law Enforcement. Harold’s family and friends always enjoyed his tales of all the years he spent on the Dallas Police force. Including the historic events of the Kennedy assassination that took place in Dallas.
Having spent many of his youthful summers on the beaches of Corpus with his family, and most of his adult free time and vacations in Port Aransas, it was only natural that in 1975 after retiring from the Dallas Police Dept, he chose to move to Port Aransas and begin the next chapter in his life.
Harold was skilled in construction and architecture. These skills he learned and perfected from working in his youthful years at his family’s lumber and home building businesses in Dallas.
Upon arrival in Port A, Harold quickly set about building his own home, as well as several homes for other people on Port Aransas Island. His homes were renowned by Japanese architects, who came to Port Aransas Island to learn his techniques for building structures that could withstand hurricane force winds easily.
He designed and built Port A’s first animal shelter for the city, where that building carried his name for years until it was replaced by a larger more modern structure and renamed.
Throughout his years in Port A, he held a Captains license and owned several large fishing boats where he was a frequent deep-sea fishing guide to visiting tourist.
In 1988, looking to make what he termed, “positive changes” in his life, Harold left Port A and relocated to settled in Rockport. As the extremely likeable and charming man he was, he quickly made many, many new friends and became involved in his new community. He entertained his many friends with gatherings in his home and he was frequently a much sought after guest by others - for social functions. Being thought of by many as “the life of the party!” He was known around town, and in many businesses for his friendliness, frequent patronage, and for his willingness to help a friend.
Harold made many trips during these years to spend time with his family and friends in Dallas - always making monthly excursions to attend the many gatherings with his high school chums.He has been a faithful member of the Fulton Community Church, which he dearly loved for many years. He continued to attend worship services up until just before his death.
His biggest passion became his involvement with the Aransas-‐San Patricio Master Gardeners. He quickly became the other member’s go‐to man for all the many wonderful educational projects the Master Gardeners provide to the community. Harold spent many volunteer hours working on the gardens, and repair projects. When his family members would come to town to visit, it was the Master Gardener’s Community Project, where Harold could always be found happily toiling away. In 2009 during a recognition ceremony the Master Gardener’s bestowed on him their “Lifetime Master Gardener” membership, as his daughter, Beverly, proudly looked on.
Harold’s other passion was his charter membership in the “Taco Flats Breakfast Club”, where he was a founder of that “by invitation only” organization. He rarely missed the daily meetings, during his later years of life. His boisterous laughing could be clearly heard as soon as one entered the door! Many hours were spent with other members as they pondered and discussed national political events, the political climate in Rockport, and various other hot topics. Harold was proud to be a member of this group of individuals that shared his like civic-mindedness.
Harold was preceded in death by his beloved eldest son Gary, his brother Stacy Quincy, his parents Walter and Minna, his grandson Howard and his brother‐in-law, Rev Robert Stacy. He is survived however by his daughter Beverly Henley of Dallas, and his youngest son Donald Henley of Amarillo. His two sisters Mildred Canterbury and her husband Ernest of Winnsboro, TX, and Marie Stacy of Dallas, and his sister-in-law Mary Henley of Arlington. His grandchildren Marcus Henley of Dallas, Christopher Henley of Ca, April Dumas of Rowlett, Alex Henley of Austin, Peter Gibson of Houston, Brandon Henley of Seguin, Lexie Henley, and Donald Jr, both of Dallas, great grandchildren, Alexander and Andrew Dumas of Rowlett, Hayden Henley of Dallas, and Grayson and Genevieve Henley of Austin, numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins, as well as many dear friends.
As was Harold’s wishes he will be cremated and released in “his” Gulf. At a later date his family will gather for that private release of his cremated remains in a ceremony that will take place at dusk. His ashes will be set free into the Gulf in a shower of brightly colored and illuminated Chinese Lanterns. The sky will glow with colorful light in rememberance of Harold’s colorful personality - his laugh and most of all the humor in which he tackled each day.
A Memorial Celebration of Harold’s life will be held on Friday, January 25, 2013 at 3:00p.m. at the Fulton Community Church, 215 N. 3rd St., Fulton,TX. Pastor Hughes Varner officiating.
As it would have been Harold’s desire, the family requests that in lieu of floral tributes, contributions be made in Harold’s name to the Aransas-‐San Patricio Master Gardeners, 892 Airport Rd., Rockport, 78382.
Upon arrival in Port A, Harold quickly set about building his own home, as well as several homes for other people on Port Aransas Island. His homes were renowned by Japanese architects, who came to Port Aransas Island to learn his techniques for building structures that could withstand hurricane force winds easily.
He designed and built Port A’s first animal shelter for the city, where that building carried his name for years until it was replaced by a larger more modern structure and renamed.
Throughout his years in Port A, he held a Captains license and owned several large fishing boats where he was a frequent deep-sea fishing guide to visiting tourist.
In 1988, looking to make what he termed, “positive changes” in his life, Harold left Port A and relocated to settled in Rockport. As the extremely likeable and charming man he was, he quickly made many, many new friends and became involved in his new community. He entertained his many friends with gatherings in his home and he was frequently a much sought after guest by others - for social functions. Being thought of by many as “the life of the party!” He was known around town, and in many businesses for his friendliness, frequent patronage, and for his willingness to help a friend.
Harold made many trips during these years to spend time with his family and friends in Dallas - always making monthly excursions to attend the many gatherings with his high school chums.He has been a faithful member of the Fulton Community Church, which he dearly loved for many years. He continued to attend worship services up until just before his death.
His biggest passion became his involvement with the Aransas-‐San Patricio Master Gardeners. He quickly became the other member’s go‐to man for all the many wonderful educational projects the Master Gardeners provide to the community. Harold spent many volunteer hours working on the gardens, and repair projects. When his family members would come to town to visit, it was the Master Gardener’s Community Project, where Harold could always be found happily toiling away. In 2009 during a recognition ceremony the Master Gardener’s bestowed on him their “Lifetime Master Gardener” membership, as his daughter, Beverly, proudly looked on.
Harold’s other passion was his charter membership in the “Taco Flats Breakfast Club”, where he was a founder of that “by invitation only” organization. He rarely missed the daily meetings, during his later years of life. His boisterous laughing could be clearly heard as soon as one entered the door! Many hours were spent with other members as they pondered and discussed national political events, the political climate in Rockport, and various other hot topics. Harold was proud to be a member of this group of individuals that shared his like civic-mindedness.
Harold was preceded in death by his beloved eldest son Gary, his brother Stacy Quincy, his parents Walter and Minna, his grandson Howard and his brother‐in-law, Rev Robert Stacy. He is survived however by his daughter Beverly Henley of Dallas, and his youngest son Donald Henley of Amarillo. His two sisters Mildred Canterbury and her husband Ernest of Winnsboro, TX, and Marie Stacy of Dallas, and his sister-in-law Mary Henley of Arlington. His grandchildren Marcus Henley of Dallas, Christopher Henley of Ca, April Dumas of Rowlett, Alex Henley of Austin, Peter Gibson of Houston, Brandon Henley of Seguin, Lexie Henley, and Donald Jr, both of Dallas, great grandchildren, Alexander and Andrew Dumas of Rowlett, Hayden Henley of Dallas, and Grayson and Genevieve Henley of Austin, numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins, as well as many dear friends.
As was Harold’s wishes he will be cremated and released in “his” Gulf. At a later date his family will gather for that private release of his cremated remains in a ceremony that will take place at dusk. His ashes will be set free into the Gulf in a shower of brightly colored and illuminated Chinese Lanterns. The sky will glow with colorful light in rememberance of Harold’s colorful personality - his laugh and most of all the humor in which he tackled each day.
A Memorial Celebration of Harold’s life will be held on Friday, January 25, 2013 at 3:00p.m. at the Fulton Community Church, 215 N. 3rd St., Fulton,TX. Pastor Hughes Varner officiating.
As it would have been Harold’s desire, the family requests that in lieu of floral tributes, contributions be made in Harold’s name to the Aransas-‐San Patricio Master Gardeners, 892 Airport Rd., Rockport, 78382.
From website: http://www.rockportpilot.com/articles/2013/01/18/obituaries/doc50f877f0d8c17448932041.txt
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