William Thomas Halsey, 76

William Thomas Halsey, 76, of Lincoln, died Wednesday, August 26, 2015, at his home near Lincoln.  He was born on June 7, 1939, at Odessa, Missouri, a son of James Thomas and Eliza Belle (Winegar) Halsey.

On June 6, 1958, at Higginsville, Missouri, he was united in marriage to Mary Waunita Martin, who survives of the home.

He grew up in Lafayette County, where he attended school in Mayview and Higginsville and was a member of the Higginsville Church of Christ.  He planted trees for Brunining Nursery in Higginsville.  In 1976, he was contracted to plant trees next to the highways in Nebraska and Iowa.  He also farmed and raised cattle and loved raising Jacks and Jennys; and, in 1984, took the National Champion at the Ohio State Fair.

William worked at Allis Chalmers in Kansas City.  He was a member of Union Local #663 in Kansas City for 30 years, retiring in 2000, where he had worked as a lead man, foreman, and grade checker for Tri-City Construction and White Construction in Kansas City and O'Donnell and Sons Construction in Overland Park, KS.  In 2001, he and his wife Mary moved to a farm East of Lincoln and continued to raise Jacks and Jennys.  He also loved to coon hunt and listen to the dogs run.

He is survived by:
his wife, Mary Halsey of the home;
two sons, William David Halsey and his wife Elizabeth and Phillip Thomas Halsey and his wife Jo, all of Mayview;
three grandchildren, Jonathan Halsey, William Halsey, and Jessica Halsey; and
five great-grandchildren, Audrey, Hayden, Braidyn, Malackii, and Harmony.

He was preceded in death by his parents,  James and Elizabeth Halsey, and one brother, Walter Halsey.

Funeral services will be held at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, August 29, 2015, at Mt. Pleasant Church,
23758 Mt. Pleasant Avenue,  Warsaw, with Rev. John Churchill officiating.  Burial will be in Mt. Pleasant Cemetery, rural Warsaw.

The family will receive friends from 1:30 p.m. until service time on Saturday at the church.

The family suggests memorial contributions be given to Mt. Pleasant Cemetery or Benton County Hospice in care of the Fox Funeral Home, Cole Camp.

Pallbearers will be Jonathan Halsey, Travis Halsey, Daniel Halsey, Michael Gann, Robbie Gann, and Jim Martin.  Honorary pallbearers will be Jim Halsey, Tim Halsey, Roy Halsey, Billy Halsey, Wilbur Brown, and Troy Gann.