Artie Joe Haley, 85, of Muskogee, Oklahoma passed away at home Sunday, February 12, 2012. Joe was born October 17, 1926 to Arthur Dennis Haley and Lillian Rose Haley (Hinds) in Braggs, Oklahoma the youngest of three children. The family moved to Muskogee in the early thirties, and has called Muskogee home since then.

Joe served in the United States Navy during World War II and was in the Philippino Liberation Campaign receiving the Victory Medal, American Campaign Medal and Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with two stars. He was honorably discharged in 1946. He also served his country in the United States Army during the Korean War at Camp Polk, Louisiana. Joe married Delsie Hutchcraft on August 19, 1950 before moving to Camp Polk. They returned to Oklahoma and Joe began a thirty-three year career with Oklahoma Gas and Electric Company, retiring in 1987.

Survivors include his wife of sixty-one years, Delsie, two sons, Mike Haley of Muskogee, and Drew Haley and his wife Tami of Tahlequah, grandchildren, Jake and Zack Ellexson and Jayden Warner. Two great-grandchildren, Malik Ellexson and Xade Ellexson. He is also survived by one sister, Doris Hill and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Arthur and Lillian Haley, and sister, Dorothy Baker. Joe was a long-time member of Chandler Road Church of Christ in Muskogee, Oklahoma. He was especially proud of his Cherokee Indian heritage and served on the advisory board for the Three Rivers Health Center, the Cherokee Nation Compensation Committee, and other boards and committees over the past several years. He received the Medal of Freedom from the Cherokee Nation for serving in the military. Joe made many friends in the Cherokee Nation and was proud to call Chief Chad Smith and Councilman Don Garvin his close personal friends. Joe and Delsie traveled to Porum with Don and Jo Garvin many times for "Indian tacos". He especially enjoyed reading and studying the Bible every day at the dining table, sometimes for hours.Funeral services will be held 10:00 a.m., Thursday, February 16, 2012 at Chandler Road Church of Christ with Donnie Branscum officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery following the service. Pallbearers are Jake Ellexson, Zack Ellexson, Jayden Warner, Steve Hill, Brian Hill, and Patrick Hill. Hororary pallbearers are Dennis Hill, Duane Hill, David Hill, Bob Haley, Gray Koonce, Don Garvin and Chief Chad Smith.

The family has entrusted Bradley Funeral Service of Muskogee with the arrangements.

Those who wish to send the family a condolence may do so on the website www.bradleyfuneralservice.com