Celia Haley

Celia Baker Haley, who spent most of her life in Brenham, Texas, building her family and championing regional arts, history, and access to higher education, died unexpectedly on May 2nd, surrounded by family at the Baylor & White Medical Center in Temple, Texas. She was 69. Those who loved her compared her to a butterfly, which was a potent metaphor for Celia: dazzling, playful and, ultimately, fleeting. Like Celia, butterflies spend life dancing on the breeze, basking in the sun, turning simple moments into wondrous memories for everyone around them. And then they float away.

Celia was a relentlessly energetic, kind-hearted, and beloved pillar of the community in Brenham, where she gave her energy to local institutions that shaped community life. She was a member of the city's Main Street Advisory Board, and - along with her late husband, Steven Haley - was a vocal advocate, donor, and supporter of regional and national institutions like Washington-On-The-Brazos Historical Foundation where she served as a board member, The First United Methodist Church, and regional theatres from Brenham to Navasota. She was passionate about art, history, education, and most importantly, helping others, which she channeled beyond her charitable work as a member of the financial aid department of Blinn College, helping students find and access essential resources to fund higher education.

Known by many names - Busy Lizzie to her mother, CeCe, Cookie, Cil - she was the youngest of three sisters, born in Oklahoma City to Betty Zoe and Woodrow Baker with the name Celia, which means "heavenly," perfectly matching the ethereal, lightness of her being. A butterfly from the start.

Although she was raised in Oklahoma, her most formative years were set against a whirlwind travel abroad. By age 15 she had lived on multiple continents, attending schools in Nigeria and Switzerland, before returning to the states to complete high school at The Casady School in Oklahoma City.

Celia attended Newcomb College, Tulane University in New Orleans where she studied communications and graduated with a B.A. in 1979. At Tulane, she was a member of the Kappa Alpha Theta Sorority where she formed an indelible group of friends that would stay close throughout her entire life. Most recently, at her son's Brenham wedding in 2025, the college crew re-assembled - now, with their children and grandchildren. Life was evolving once again.

After college, Celia landed in Austin, Texas with a job at the Department of Agriculture. In her role as a public relations manager, she was a connector: smart, charming and easy to get along with. It was at that same job, where she met Steve, whom she married in 1983. Together, they moved to Brenham, had two wonderful children, Callie and Marshall, the two lights of her life, and started life as a family.

As a mother, she was loving and creative, adamant that her kids engage with the world of art and ideas that inspired her. She made up songs, she sewed costumes, she brought miniature ponies into the backyard for birthday parties and was always baking cookies. She insisted that life was magical and surprising, led by her happy heart which had the power to turn any random day into a special occasion with little gifts and sweet nothings tucked into stockings. This was her love-language; she knew that life was challenging, but it's much easier with cookies - or a martini.

When her husband died in 2018, she was tested. Her extended family, deep friendships, community ties in Brenham, and spiritual connection to God helped her process her grief. Steve's death also taught her that life was precious and short and the best way to spend it was with family and friends, travelling and making new memories.

In her later years, she travelled whenever she got the chance-exploring the Scottish Highlands, wandering through the French countryside, taking in the beauty of Lake Michigan, and spending family weekends at the Llano River. Nothing made her happier than seeing her family grow, especially as her children, Callie and Marshall, married their spouses Kevin and Morgan. Then, in March 2025, one of her greatest joys arrived: her first grandchild, George Callen Collins. George and his "CeCe" spent hours together laughing and playing, and some of the sweetest moments were the quiet ones-rocking him to sleep and singing her favorite lullaby from The Sound of Music, "Edelweiss." Just last month, she celebrated George's first birthday and watched him be baptized in the same church where she raised her children-and where her funeral is being held. Celia also loved a good night out, dressed-up regularly, draped with her signature pearls, and surrounded by her dear friends. And if you ever sat with her on one of those nights, you know she could talk about anything-life, love, mortality, spirituality-but she also loved to laugh, to keep it light, to move quickly from topic to topic. Her impish sense of humor and true delight in the company of other people was her signature.

Celia's Texas roots ran deep. This was her home. The night she passed, an electric pink twilight painted the western sky over the hill country.

Celia is survived by her daughter, Elizabeth Callen Haley Collins (Kevin), of Austin, TX; her son, Marshall Wilson Haley (Morgan), of Houston, TX; and her grandson, George Callen Collins. She is also survived by her sisters, Dr. Mary Zoe Baker of Oklahoma City, OK, and Beverly Gariepy (Paul) of Covington, LA; her mother-in-law Cherilyn Smith Haley of Boerne, TX; her brother-in-law, William H. Haley III (Colleen) of Fredericksburg, TX; her sister-in-law, Leslie Elizabeth Adam (Ben) of Boerne, TX; her nieces and nephews, Amelia Morgan Gariepy (Kevin) of Atlanta, GA; Charles Louis Gariepy (Adrian) of Brooklyn, NY; William H. Haley IV (Brittany) of Houston, TX; John Houston Haley (Angela) of Fredericksburg, TX; Lynden Haley Briscoe (Justin) of Fredericksburg, TX; John Matthew Adam (Lindsey) of Abilene, TX; and Haley Elizabeth Welch (Chris) of Boerne, TX; and her cousin Mary Alice Baker of Beaumont, TX. She also took great joy in her great-nieces and great-nephews: Brooklyn, Liam, Caleb, Harper, Leighton, Caroline, Amelia, Hale, Jack, Connor, Leslie, Jane, Dinah, Sam, Smith, and Florence.

A funeral service and celebration of life will be held on Friday, May 8 at 10:30am at First United Methodist Church in Brenham, Texas. All are welcome. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you consider a donation to the Washington on the Brazos Historical Foundation.

LINK: www.wheretexasbecametexas.org/support-us/

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Memorial Oaks Chapel. To post a tribute to the family, please visit www.memorialoakschapel.com