James Ashley Hadley Jr.
James Ashley Hadley Jr., 91, died on Sunday, June 17, 2018 at the West Tennessee State Veteran Home.
Mr. Hadley was born in Dyersburg, Tenn. on June 22, 1926, the son of the late James A. Hadley Sr. and Margaret Parks Hadley. He attended Castle Heights High school in Lebanon, Tenn. Mr. Hadley was a veteran of WWII serving in the United States Air Force, where he was trained and preparing for service in the Pacific as he was stationed in Washington state before being honorable discharged after the war. He attended the University of Memphis, where he met his future wife, Bonnie, graduating with a degree in business management in 1952. He was very loyal to the university being recognized as a distinguished alumnus and serving as the president of the National Alumni Association. He and Bonnie Jean Watkins Hadley were married for 65 years.
He worked for his father in the Hadley Road Construction Company for most of his career, being a part of various projects from the Memphis International Airport runways, the construction of Interstate 40 between Jackson and Memphis and the 45 Bypass locally, and was a member of the Tennessee Road Builders Association.
Mr. Hadley was a member of the First Baptist Church of Humboldt, Tenn. since the mid 1950s, being a devoted Christian, husband and father. He was very supportive of the Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief and participated in construction missionary trips to Jamaica and Ecuador.
He enjoyed big game hunting in Wyoming, participating in several large expeditions to hunt deer and antelope. Groups of 10 or more would make the trip out to Wyoming for over 10 years. He also hunted Pheasants in the Dakotas and loved to attend his father’s dove shoot in Rutherford in the 1950s, 60s up until 1973. It was known as one of the best dove hunts in the state drawing hundreds of individuals. He was also active in the Walking Horse Show held annually as a part of the West Tennessee Strawberry Festival and fishing with his friend, Clarence M. (Scotty) Scott in Florida.
Mr. Hadley is survived by his wife, Bonnie Jean Watkins Hadley of Humboldt; son, Harold (Hal) Keith Hadley of Memphis, Tenn.; a grandson, William James Hadley and wife Kylan Burgess Hadley of Nashville, Tenn.; a brother, Tommy Hadley of Jackson, Tenn.; a sister, Carolyn Hadley Martin and husband James of Bartlett, Tenn.; and a daughter-in-law, Karen Hadley.
He was preceded in death by his parents; step-mother, Mary Maude Hadley; a son, James Ashley Hadley III in January 2017; and a brother Harry Hadley.
A funeral service was held at 11 a.m., Friday, June 22, 2018 in the chapel of Arrington Funeral Directors with Dr. Bill Sims and Dr. Greg McFadden officiating. Burial followed in Rosehill Cemetery in Humboldt.
The family received friends on Friday, June 22 from 9 until 11 a.m. prior to the service.