Finnie Lee, nickname, “Br0”, Haire was born to the late Frankie Haire (Porter) and Nova Brown in Perkins Arkansas. He was the baby of ten children. Finnie loved to pass time playing with BB guns with his childhood friends Rudolph Morgan, William London, Billy Lewis, Darnell Jenkins, and his dog named Rip. He attended Webster Elementary School in Chicago and was one of the first alter boys at Holy Angels Catholic School and Church under the leadership of his godfather, the late George Clements. He graduated from Wendell Phillips High School and he was one of the leading track stars. Finnie was in the Navy where he had the Best Physical Fitness in his company. He completed a tour in the Vietnam War. After his time in the service he was discharged with an Honorable Discharge. Upon leaving the Navy Finnie Haire and his late brother TArtice (Tommy) became hair stylists. “Children are a gift from the Lord.” Psalms 127:3 Finnie Lee Haire was blessed with six. His first born MeChele D. Kelly-Haire, two proceeded him in death (Phinneaus A. Haire and Christopher C. Haire), Angel Harris, Martashanika Martin, and Patrick Dogan. Finnie Haire worked for the US Post Office for over 35 years. While working at the Post Office he attended night school at Kennedy King College where he earned his Business Management Degree. Through all of his dedicated hard work he was promoted as supervisor in mail handling over the Midwest and went to training in Washington D.C. Later he was promoted again as the Master Chief Supervisor. Ambitious Business Man & Entrepreneur In 1992 Haire retired from the post office and started Haire’s Gulf Shrimp in a Caboose with his mother’s Frankie Haire delicious shrimp recipe. As a young man his mother had taught him many things, but the recipe was the most important. She explained to him and one his nephews (Michael) that this was her own shrimp batter recipe that she made up herself from scratch and she had never shared it with anyone else before. She also mentioned that if they ever wanted to become successful and famous that the shrimp batter would make them famous. Through her advice, Finnie took his mother’s recipe and started his very own Haire’s Famous Gulf Shrimp and history was made. Over the years the business has grown, with multiple locations throughout the Chicagoland area. Haire’s Gulf Shrimp has been voted #1 Fried Shrimp. During Haire’s Inaugural at the Taste of Chicago the signature shrimp sold out. Haire’s was one of the first African American owned restaurants to be a food vendor at White Sox Park. Chance the Rapper chose his favorite shrimp place Haire’s to shoot Conde Nast Publication “Teen Vouge” cover shoot, and had a team from London come to the restaurant to do a video shoot. After receiving numerous awards Finnie Haire was inducted into Wendell Phillips Hall of Fame, a Simeon High School Booster Club Sponsor, and an officer in the Retiree Baseball Club. He will be forever remembered for his dedication to the restaurant, his jokes, his stories, and most of all the smile on his face. Finnie Haire leaves to mourn his wife and business partner Aisha Haire. Children MeChele D. Kelly-Haire, Patrick Dogan, and Angel Harris; sisters legendary, Evangelist Mary Baldwin, Francis Haire of Dallas Texas; his only living sister-in-law, Williama Haire; two very special nephews, Michael Baldwin, and Gregory (Hercules) Baldwin; a mother-in-law, three Aunts, two Uncles and a host of grandchildren, great grandchildren, cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends.