LEXINGTON, Okla. — James Edward Haley, 69, of Lexington, Okla., formerly of Parsons, died Monday, Nov. 19, 2012, in Lexington, Okla.

He was born Sept. 15, 1943, in Parsons to J.P. and Ellen (Morrissey) Haley. He was a descendant of three generations of Katy Railroad men who pioneered the Parsons town site to gain the railroad right-of-way around 1870.

In 1961, he graduated from high school in Cushing, Okla. He earned a scholarship to the University of Oklahoma and was inducted into the top 20 freshmen men’s historical honor society, PE-ET. He later earned an education degree at Oklahoma State University with a minor in library science.

A few of his lifetime accomplishments and interests included being a self-taught chess master, playing Bobbie Fisher in a simultaneous match, astronomy, an avid moon watcher, an accomplished pianist, spoke Spanish fluently and was a Bible scholar. He was Catholic.

Survivors include three sisters, Mary Ellen Grillot of Fairfield Bay, Ark., Kay Dernovish of Shreveport, La., and Theresa Sparkman of Ocean Springs, Miss.; and a host of nieces, nephews and friends with special mention of his niece, Paula Williams of Chickasha, Okla.

A graveside memorial service will be at 3:30 p.m. Friday at Calvary Cemetery in Parsons under the direction of Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home.

Memorials are suggested to St. Patrick’s Catholic Church Building Fund. These may be left at or mailed to Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home, P.O. Box 374, Parsons, KS, 67357.

Online condolences may be left at www.forbeshoffman.com.