Beatrice Lillian Haney

On Monday, July 25, 2005, in Abilene, the irrepressible Bea Haney made her transition into heaven at Hendrick Memorial Hospice at the venerable age of 92. For almost half a century, her energy and spirited style shaped the fashion senses of the ladies of Abilene. Resourceful and always stylish, she lived exactly as she ordained and left this life surrounded by those to whom she meant the most. Abilene will seem a little less interesting without her. Born March 10, 1913, in Olney, Texas, Bea was the second child of Lillian Thomas and Thomas Guimarin, who opened the first Oldsmobile dealership in Olney. Bright and ambitious, she graduated with a B.A. degree in music education from then- Simmons University, where she met her first husband, J.T. Haney. After graduation, Bea worked in a department store merchandising ladies' ready-to-wear, and it was there that she found her passion for beautiful clothing. With her husband, she moved to El Paso, where her children were born: John Thomas Jr. in 1939, and twins Carlton Daniel and Charles Guimarin in 1944. After divorcing in 1947, Bea moved back to Abilene with her three young sons and began selling ladies' clothing from her house while fulfilling the role of full-time mother. In 1952, she opened her landmark business, Bea Haney Specialty Store, in Abilene. Partnered with her brother Tom Guimarin, her establishment was to become "the" clothing store in West Texas and would survive for almost 50 years, closing in 1999. Her yearly fashion shows were much-anticipated events and included appearances by well-known designers. Bea Haney was predeceased by husband, Dr. L. J. Webster and her sister Lilly Mae Hallman of Abilene. She is survived by: younger sister Charlsie Fulwiller of Athens, Georgia; and brother Tom Guimarin of Abilene. Her children: John Haney of Rockport; twins Carlton and Charles Haney, along with Charles' wife Patti, of Houston. Also grandchildren: John Haney III, of Austin; Sharon Haney of Seattle, Washington; and Kimberly Jacobs and husband Brad of Houston; two great grandsons: Palmer and Parker Jacobs. Visitation is on Tuesday, July 26th from 3 to 5 at The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road, and services will be at The Hamil Family Funeral Home Chapel on Wednesday, July 27, 2005 at 10:00 a.m. Burial will be private at Elmwood Memorial Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be sent in Bea's name to the Hendrick Home for Children, PO Box 5195, Abilene, Texas 79608, on which board she served as a member of its Development Council from 1982 – 1994, and gave the first Christmas Style Show to benefit the Home. As a family we will miss her and hold her dearly in our hearts forever.