Benjamin Henley
Published 9:14 am Wednesday, February 25, 2015
Benjamin Noah Henley passed away Friday evening, Feb. 20, 2015, after a three-year battle with Parkinson’s. He was 85 years old.
He was born to Jewell Ivie Henley and Benjamin Charles Henley on Dec. 12, 1929, in Harrison, Ark. He graduated from Harrison High School and attended the University of Arkansas before entering manager training for West’s Department Stores in Russellville, Ark. He co-owned and operated Walter’s Department Store in Harrison until 1981, when he became a regional sales representative, traveling out of state for wholesale ladies apparel and accessory companies from Chicago and St. Louis. Later, he completed 30 hours in banking at Northwest Arkansas College and became assistant county supervisor for Carroll County, handling farm loans until he retired in 1995. While in Harrison, he was a veteran of the U.S. Army and a member of St. Paul’s Methodist Church, the Chamber of Commerce, the Civil Service Commission, the Distributive Education Program and many civic organizations.
After retirement, he and his devoted wife, Donna, of 30 years, moved to her hometown in Bogalusa, where he was loved and adored by all who were fortunate to know him. He was an avid golfer, bridge player and fisherman and was a former member of Dionysus, a Krewe of Bogalusa’s Carnival Association. He was King Lagniappe in 2006 and an active member of the Bogalusa Country Club. He attended First Baptist Church until he was no longer able to attend.
He was preceded in death by his parents and stepgrandson, Joseph Paul Raborn.
He is survived by his wife, Donna Welsh Henley of Bogalusa; his two daughters of Little Rock, Ark., Deborah Henley Cooper and Meegan Henley; his sister, Shirley Henley Wright of Bogalusa; his stepdaughters, Anne Langston (Jerry) Crowell of Bogalusa; and Julie Langston (Ron) Hufft of Abita Springs; two stepgranddaughters, Sara Raborn of New Orleans and Erin Hufft of Abita Springs; and many nieces and nephews in Harrison, Ark.
A memorial service will be held in Bogalusa at Poole-Ritchie Funeral Home on Saturday, Feb. 28, at 2 p.m. following visitation beginning at noon. The Rev. Robert L. Adams, the Rev. Karl Wood and Hospice Chaplain Leo Jackson will conduct the service.