Don Allen Hafley, 83, of Milano passed away peacefully on Aug. 14, 2025, at Arling ton Memorial Hospital in Arlington. Services will be held 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 23, at Phillips & Lucke y Funeral Home with Bro. Gary Westbrook officiating. Burial will follow at Sandy Creek Cemetery.
Friends and loved ones are invited to attend and celebrate his life at the Baptist Church in Milano following Mr. Hafley
the burial at Sandy Creek.
The family will receive visitors from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday Aug. 22, at the funeral home.
Don was born on Nov. 30, 1941, in Gause to Louis Thornton Hafley and Mary Julia Zedlitz Hafley.
He graduated from Hearne High School in 1959 and later earned his degree in physical education from Texas A&M College, as well as a master’s degree in education from Texas A&M University in 1969.
He went on to work as a coach and teacher at Strawn ISD, Gause ISD and Milano ISD, where he made many friends and influenced many young people.
On Aug. 3, 1963, he married Carolyn Dee Yoakum and together they built a life filled with love and family. They were blessed with a son, Martyn, born in August of 1969. He was also a proud grandfather to Lillie and Maddie Hafley. They called him “Papa.”
He is survived by his wife, Carolyn Haf ley of Rockdale; his son, Martyn Hafley; daughter-in-law Diana Hafley; granddaughters Lille and Maddie Hafley; brothers-in-law Gilmer Gaston and Travis Yoakum; sister-in-law Valery Beard; nephews DeAllen Gaston, Jeremy Gaston, Steve Hafley, John Yoakum; nieces Tonia Gaston, Janet Mills, Dalaiah Eiland, Angela Beard, Jennifer Bailey and Crystal Beard; along with numerous cousins and close friends.
He was preceded in death by his father, Louis Hafley; mother Mary Zedlitz; Uncle Rufus Hafley; brothers Floyd and Johnny Hafley; sister Norma Gaston; nephew Floyd Thomas Hafley; niece Sandy Hafley ;and daughters Edra Vae and Mary.
In lieu of flowers, I would ask that donations be made to: Sandy Creek Cemetery Association, c/o Travis Yoakum, 256 CR 360, Milano, TX 76556; or to the Cure Alzheimer’s Fund, 34 Washington St., Ste. 310, Wellesley, MA 02481 or his direct link: https://curealz.org/outreach/ in-memory/don-allen- hafley/.