Thomas W. Haley

Thomas W. Haley, 97, of Monson, MA passed away December 23, 2020 at Palmer Healthcare Center. He was born December 3, 1923 in Monson, MA, son of Thomas W. and Nora (Calhoon) Haley. Thomas was raised in Brimfield and attended Brimfield Hitchcock Free Academy, where he would first meet his eventual wife Anne Skowyra. He later attended Western New England College. Thomas proudly enlisted and served his country in the United States Coast Guard during WWII, where he was stationed in the remote Aleution Islands patrolling for submarines. Following the war he would return to Massachusetts to settle in Monson, where he remained a member of the American Legion Post 241. He also maintained his enthusiasm for public service as a member of the democratic town committee and the Monson Board of Selectmen. During the late 1950’s Thomas owned and ran the Spud-nut breakfast café on Route 20. He would later turn to various local ventures that included dairy and turkey farming. Tom worked his later years and would eventually retire from the Hampden County Sheriff Department where he was a farm superintendent at Hampden County Jail. In his leisure, he was an active outdoorsman who enjoyed hunting, fishing and playing golf. He was also an accomplished craftsman and builder, in the early 90’s he built homes and barn on a plot of land he had purchased on Silver St. After a brief move to Florida he and Anne would return to Monson and Silver St to live adjacent to his sons Dennis and Thomas. He will be deeply missed by his children, Thomas Haley and Paula Haley both of Monson and Jerome Haley of Australia, daughters in law Esther Haley and Jacquelyn Haley of Monson and Michelle Haley of Perth Australia. He is also survived by six grandchildren and six great grandchildren. He was predeceased by his wife, Anne (Skowyra) Haley and two sons, Dennis and Michael Haley. Burial will be private at the convenience of the family. Beers & Story Palmer Funeral Home was entrusted with the arrangements.