Well-known firefighter succumbs

Flags at local fire departments flying at half-staff. A bagpiper playing a song of tribute. A processional of fire trucks from around the area. 911 pagers giving the "last call"--all in honor of a man who has spent his life dedicated to helping others. All in honor of Jerry Arthur Haden Halsey.

Fireman funeral services were held at the Oceana First Baptist Church Thursday for Halsey, 60, of Oceana, who passed away Sunday, August 7, after an apparent stroke. Halsey was well known in the area for his 38 year dedication to the Oceana Volunteer Fire Department and the Oceana community.

Oceana Fire Chief Arvin Drake has known Halsey for almost 40 years and remembers first getting acquainted with him when Halsey drove an ambulance for OH-9. "He was one of the first employees they had over here," Drake recalled. "He was one of the first EMT's in the area driving an ambulance. My brother, William Drake Jr. worked with him."

Drake, who has been on the fire department for 34 years, said Halsey was the person responsible for getting him to join the fire department. Halsey was in charge of a junior fire department in 1971, at which time he recruited Drake, who was only 15.

Halsey was a "super good person who never met a stranger or anyone he wouldn't help," Drake said. "It didn't matter if you were young or old, rich or poor, he would help you. He would be the first one there if the pager went off."

Pineville Volunteer Fire Department President Mike Goode, who has been friends with Halsey since they were teenagers working at their respective fire departments, also remembers Halsey as a good man, always concerned about others Goode said Halsey would many times send him e-mails of prayer requests for friends of his who were sick. "He was just a really good guy all around and was dedicated to his fire department. He took his job seriously," Goode said. "Jerry and I have been associated with the fire department for almost 40 years. He was always there when you needed him. I will miss him." Born Nov. 11, 1944, in Oceana, Halsey was a son of the late Herbert Haden and Willa Nancy Lambert Halsey.

His birth mother, Ollie Pauley, also preceded him in death.

Survivors include his loving wife, Mary Katherine Dixon Halsey; two sons, Herbert "Herbie" Haden Halsey and wife, Renea, of Oceana and Justin Monroe Halsey of Oceana and his fiance, Tasha George of Sophia; a brother, Lacy Pauley of Pikeville, Ky.; six sisters, Vonda Kay Brown of Belcher, Ky., Phyllis Jean Sloan of Mouthcard, Ky., Hazel McKinney of Island Creek, Ky., Patricia Lowe of Pikeville, Ky., Bernice Kelly of Huntsville, Ala.; three grandchildren, Matthew, Nicole and Callista Halsey; along with a host of other loving family and friends.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Oceana Volunteer Fire Department. E-mail letters of sympathy to staffordfamilyfh@yahoo.com.

Officers of the Oceana Volunteer Fire Department served as pallbearers.

Stafford Family Funeral Home of Lynco had charge of arrangements.