William Leonard Haney, 77, died Monday, March 6, 2023 at the family home on the Nolichucky River in Green Mountain, North Carolina. His entire life was spent in close proximity to the water – the Atlantic and Pacific oceans and lastly the mountain river where his father was raised.
He was born April 30 1946, in Providence, Rhode Island to Margaret Maie Chamberlin Haney and William Clay Haney.
Bill was raised in a Navy family and lived on both coasts of the United States; including Connecticut, Virginia, Maryland, Florida, California and Hawaii. He also lived in Costa Rica for an extended period.
He enlisted in the United States Naval Reserve, in Norfolk, Virginia, while in high school. After attending Old Dominion University he was called into active duty and served in the United States Navy during the Vietnam War. Bill worked for the Coast and Geodetic Survey on survey ships in the Atlantic and Caribbean Oceans. and for Morton-Thikol at the Cape Canaveral Space Center as a member of the Space Shuttle recovery team. He held a Captains license and was master of oil spill recovery ships in Georgia and South Carolina and ocean going casinos in Florida. He also
supervised installation of terrorist protection measures in Port Everglades, Miami.
Bill will be remembered by his many friends as an excellent surfer, talented cook, skilled craftsman and life-long learner.
He is survived by sisters , Donna Haney Saunders (Steve) and Susan Leah Haney of Vicksburg, MS, and brother Jeffrey Ronald Haney, (Dianne) of Merritt Island Fl. He is also survived by six nieces and nephews, Tracy Breeden, Greg Breeden (Lynn), Carly Haney Flores (Luis), Katlyn Haney (Shane), Jeffrey Haney and Jeremy Haney; and nine great-nieces and nephews .
A memorial paddle-out will be held at a later date in Cocoa Beach, Florida. To send online condolences, please visit our website at www.yanceyfuneralservice.com.
