Susan Carmen Haley

Susan Carmen Ball Haley of Venice FL passed from this life peacefully on February 15, 2026, four days after her 83rd birthday. She was born during the difficult days of World War II, while her father served in England, and was raised in Michigan by her parents Carmen Williams Ball and William Ball, her maternal grandmother Cleelan Williams Williams (the family has always been amused that Cleelan's maiden and married surnames were the same), and her paternal aunt Virginia Ball Foster. In addition to these loved ones, Susan was preceded in death by her husband Jerry Haley in 1999, son Vincent Daniels in 2014, many close relatives and friends, many pet cats, a special bull named Miracle, and her grandpup Barkley "BB McPup" Haley (worldwide ambassador for pit bulls).

Susan lived into her 20s in Michigan where she married, her sons were born, and she worked in the automotive industry. Her young family then moved to New Philadelphia OH, where she earned an AA degree in criminal law from Kent State University while working at McDonald's and as a dispatcher for the Ohio State Highway Patrol. Next, the family moved to Sarasota FL where she enjoyed working for Paver Construction and Publix and tending the gardens of numerous clients. Susan loved the "tree house" she and Jerry helped design in Laurel FL with roof cutouts that accommodated the branches of a tree they were determined to save and lives to this day. Some of the most precious years she and Jerry shared were those spent living in the countryside outside Murphy NC surrounded by the Larry and Glenda McNabb family.

Susan loved traveling. She enjoyed a trip to England with her parents and sister to meet the family who befriended her father during World War II, travels with friend Kathy Killam in the US midwest, and visiting friends Thom Swain and Larry Kraft in California. She also travelled often with her son, daughter-in-law, and Barkley throughout Pennsylvania, Maine, Michigan, Georgia, North Carolina, New York (with highlights being Watkins Glen, the Erie Canal, Niagara Falls, and being bitten by a police horse she tried to pet in New York City), and Alaska, where she was mesmerized by Denali National and State Parks, wildlife, wildflowers, and history. She also spread some of Jerry's ashes in a special spot Jerry would have loved in Chugach State Park in Anchorage. Another favorite destination of Susan's was Proud Spirit Horse Sanctuary, run by her cousin Melanie Foster Bowles and husband Jim Bowles.

Writing was another passion of Susan's. She was a past leader of the Florida Writers Association's Sarasota Group and authored many poems and several books, including the road trip novel _Rainy Day People_.

Susan is survived by her son William Haley and daughter-in-law Karen Walck Haley of Harrisburg PA; sister Carla Ball Dietz and brother-in-law (and Jerry's best friend) Lester Dietz of Walled Lake MI; nieces Amanda (Mike) Thomas and Mary (Arnie) Dreher and great-nieces and great-nephews Hannah, Ava, Gabriel, Vincent and Max, all of MI; and devoted friend of nearly 30 years Chris Ingram of Venice FL.

Arrangements have been entrusted to National Cremation and Burial Society, 2990 Bee Ridge Road, Sarasota FL, where a memorial service will be held at 10:00 on Friday, February 27th.

Her family suggests that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made in her memory to St. Francis Animal Rescue of Venice, 1925 S. Tamiami Trail, Venice FL 34293 (941-492-6200), where Sue was a volunteer and from which she adopted her current cat, Cowboy.