NATCHEZ — Services for Billy Murray “Bill” Haney, 91, of Natchez, who died Friday, July 9, 2010, at Natchez Regional Medical Center of natural causes, will be at 11 a.m. Monday at Laird Funeral Home Chapel with Dr. Edwin Temple officiating.

Burial will follow at the Natchez City Cemetery under the direction of Laird Funeral Home.

Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. today at the funeral home.

Mr. Haney was born Nov. 22, 1918, in El Dorado, Ark., Union County, the son of William Laird Haney and Effie Murphy Haney. He was a 1936 graduate of El Dorado High School and was a member of the National Honor Society and Quill and Scroll Club. Mr. Haney was a graduate of Centenary College in Shreveport, La., with a degree in business.

He enlisted in the U.S. Air Corps as Special CPT (Civilian Pilot Training) as a flight instructor. He was awarded his commercial pilot license, instruction rating, his pilot’s wings and 2nd Lt. commission.
The war in Japan ended and Lt. Haney remained in inactive reserve. He was employed by National Supply Company in 1945, and worked in Shreveport, Natchez and Brookhaven and was promoted to store manager. June 15, 1946, he married Jane E. Young in Laurel and was transferred to New Orleans in 1948. Mr. Haney became assistant district manager for National Supply Company in Shreveport in 1949, and was again transferred to Wichita Falls, Texas, in 1951. Mr. Haney resigned from National Supply Company in 1957 and purchased a partnership in Revere Drilling Company. He sold his interest in Revere Drilling Company and accepted the position as general sales manager of machinery and equipment for Superior Iron Works in Shreveport in 1963. He was promoted to vice president, then to the board of directors of Superior Supply Company. Mr. Haney retired from Superior Supply Company in 1982 and remained in the oil business as an independent oilman drilling and producing wells in Arkansas, Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi. He married Ethel Biglane Francis in 1978. Mr. Haney was an avid golfer up to the time he was unable to play.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, F.W. Haney and infant Rupert Haney; one sister, Imogene Haney Grabowski; and both wives, Jane Y. Nelson and Ethel Biglane Francis Haney.

Survivors include two daughters, Sandra H. Taylor and husband, Thomas P. Taylor, of Natchez and Cynthia H. Martty and husband, F. Thomas Martty, of Montgomery, Texas; five grandchildren, Tanner A. Martty of Santa Monica, Calif., L. Taylor Martty of Baton Rouge, Preston Francis of Jackson, Mary Margaret Francis and Lane Francis, both of Madison; three stepsons, Joseph F. Francis of Jackson, Gene R. Francis and wife, Rebecca Odom Francis of Natchez and David J. Francis and wife, Christy Francis, of Madison; three nephews, Dr. William Stanley Grabowski of Medina, Wash., Michael Keith Grabowski of Chapin, S.C., and Charles W. Haney; one niece, Catherine Haney; and the family yellow Labrador Retriever, Magnolia, who will miss sitting at his feet.

Pallbearers will be Thomas P. Taylor, Tommy Martty, Patrick R. Biglane, Joseph F. Francis, Gene R. Francis and David J. Francis.

Honorary pallbearers will be coffee club members Noland E. Biglane,

Robert Lehmann, Howard French, Joseph F. Fortunado and John F. Crocker.

Following the burial, a reception for friends and family will be at 108 N. Temple.

Memorials may be made to the Natchez Humane Society building fund.

Online condolences may be sent to www.lairdfh.com.

Bill lived a good life with a number of friends and family who will always remember him as someone who “always did it his way!”