4/16/1937 – 7/2/2017
Catherine (Kay) Hull Haley, 80, of Gretna died July 2, 2017.
She was born in Tulsa, OK. to James Dean and Catherine (Goodrich) Hull April 16, 1937. Her parents both died when she was a young girl. After several years living with her maternal grandparents in Long Beach, CA. she went to live with her aunt and uncle in Del Mar, CA. She attended boarding school at Ramona Secondary School in Alhambra, CA. She received an Associates degree from Lincoln School of Commerce.
Kay and Thomas O. Haley, Sr. were married July 1, 1959 and had 5 children. They divorced in the late 1980’s.
After the children were raised, Kay started her career at the Nebraska Hospital Association and later worked for UNL in the Physics and Astronomy department. She retired in 2013.
Kay was an avid gardener, and a certified Master Gardener for many years. She enjoyed volunteering her time helping others. Kay was an active member of Call to Action Nebraska and served many years with Beginning Experience for the Omaha Archdiocese. She moved to Gretna in 1999 where she was an active member of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church and served as an EMHC for many years.
Kay was preceded in death by her parents and her brother, James Hull (Marian). She is survived by her children/spouses John Haley, Brighton, CO.; Jim Haley (Barb) Omaha; Ann McMickell (Rick), Hastings; Tom Haley, Jr. (Lisa), Omaha; Dan Haley, Berlin, MD.
Kay is also survived by her grandchildren: Matt Haley (Bailey), Renton, WA.; Adam Haley, Wichita, KS.; Beth Haley, Marge Haley, Rob McMickell (Althea), Allison McMickell, Jack Haley, Molly Haley and Will Haley all of Omaha; great grandson Graham McMickell of Omaha. She is also survived by sister-in-law, Marian Hull; niece Cindy Cox and nephew Steve Hull, all of San Antonio, TX.
Funeral Mass will be held at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Gretna, on Friday, July 7, at 10:00 AM with Visitation from 9:00-10:00 AM.
Memorials to Matt Talbot Kitchen & Outreach, Lincoln or Siena Francis House, Omaha.
We all miss you!
I was an international graduate student in the Physics department. Kay is so nice and so patient to everyone! I really appreciate her help and cares during my stay in UNL. We all miss you! Rest in peace.
I’m very sorry to hear this. Kay was a very nice, kind graduate secretary. She helped me a lot when I came to UNL. My speaking English was not good at the beginning and she always had a lot patience to listen and encouraged me. We will miss her.
As an international student at the Physics and Astronomy, UNL I am indebted to Kay for helping me adjusting with the new set up and always helping me through difficulties I faced. I still remember the day she retired and at that day she wished me for graduation and told me she will keep an eye about the news. I do not know she knew or not but I want to thank you Kay for helping me starting the journey which I finished this year as a graduate student.
I remember Kay very well especially when I was serving on the Graduate Committee. At time when I was sending off a letter or something she was often correcting my English or upgrading it before they sent off. She was very helpful to the Grad Students in the Department.
She will be missed very much.
She was a wonderful woman, she was always willing to help students, specially international students. We won’t forget her. I guess we never thank her enough. May her Rest In Peace.
Kay was a lady. As her neighbor for many years, I know of her great strength and faith in God. May she gain her heavenly reward now.
Sally Burt
I worked closely with Kay while she was in the Dept of Physics at UNL. I appreciated her sense of humor, her warmth and her caring attitude to the numerous students who found their way to her desk, to be given firm, sensible and kindly advice. I hope her garden bloomed extra brightly this spring.
I am so sorry to hear the news. Kay retired few month after I came to Department of physics and Astronomy at UNL as a graduate student. I was new and did not know much about almost everything. She was the first to help me to settle down and get familiar with everyone and everything. She was a kind, helpful and considerate person.
I was an international student and I graduated in the same year when Kay retired from UNL. If it were not for Kay, I cannot have made it through graduate school. I will be always grateful for what Kay has done for me.
Kay was an outstanding member of the staff of the Department of Physics and Astronomy. She will be remembered fondly by faculty and by the many graduate students she helped direct through their studies in her capacity as Graduate Secretary. We will all miss her cheerful demeanor and her insights about life.
I always looked forward to working with Kay in the garden. She was a woman of great strength and character. She loved the family so much and she made everyone feel like you were apart of hers.
Rest in Peace my dear friend..Rest In Peace
I have known Kay since we were in high school boarding school together. She was a delightful person then and remained so her entire life. She will be missed by many!
My love, prayers and sympathy to her family.
She was a great neighbor and lady. She will be missed!
Matt and I are thinking of all of you keeping you in our prayers. We loved Nana for her strong spirit and sense of humor!!!
So sorry for your loss. You all are in my prayers
Ann, Rick, Rob, Allison , Althea. We’re so very sorry for the loss of your Mother and Grandmother . Kay was a very wonderful lady.
Ann I am so sorry for your loss.