Felix Lafayette McHaney

Mr. Felix Lafayette McHaney, 94, of Leachville, passed away Saturday, Feb. 5, 2011, at Northeast Arkansas Baptist Hospital in Jonesboro. Born in Hornersville, he was the son of the late Thomas and Julia Sando McHaney and had been a Leachville resident since 1924.

Mr. McHaney graduated as valedictorian of his 1933 Leachville High School class and was a Navy veteran of WWII. He was a member and deacon of Leacvhille First Baptist Church and was a retired rural mail carrier and former Postmaster of the Leachville Post Office. He loved all kinds of sports, especially basketball, and served many years officiating high school basketball in Arkansas and Missouri.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 58 years, Mrs. Martha West McHaney; three brothers, Neal, Jinx and Robert; and four sisters, Elizabeth, Nell, Amy and Nan.

He leaves one son, Grady Lee "Butch" McHaney and his wife, Carolyn, of Bertrand;

Three daughters, Julia Carter and her husband, Bill, of Aiken, Margaret McHaney of Marion and Martha Jean McHaney Stewart and her husband, Bill, of Augusta;

One sister, Mrs. Ann Smith of Cardwell;

His special niece and caregiver, Mrs. Mari Bridges Hayden of Leachville;

Eight grandchildren, Todd Carter, Darren Carter, Jill Carter Leffler, Jason McHaney, Beth McHaney Simmons, Lauralea Tanner, Bently Dorman and Will Stewart; and

Thirteen great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Howard Funeral Chapel in Leachville, with the Rev. David Price officiating. Burial will follow in the Leachville cemetery with grandsons serving as pallbearers and great-grandchildren serving as honorary pallbearers. The family will receive visitors from 6-8 p.m. today at the funeral home. Friends unable to attend are invited to sign the online guest register at www.howardfuneralservice.com