Michael “Mike” Hafey passed away at Atrium Health, Charlotte, Dec. 13, 2024, after a long illness. He was born Dec. 6, 1937 in Circleville, OH., to parents Harry Bliss and Verna Marie (Hoffman) Hafey.

He pretty much grew up as a teenager in Charlotte, and would talk about racing cars on Old Monroe Road from Monroe to Charlotte, in the good ole days. Finally, the sheriff starting confiscating the cars and that was the end of that.

Mike was devoted to his wonderful wife Shirley Dean (Southerland) Hafey. When he saw her sitting on a porch in a girl’s boarding house, while driving down the road, he stopped in the middle of traffic, and would not move until she agreed to go out on a date with him. He knew the minute he saw her, that he was going to marry her.

Mike was in the U.S. Army. I had asked him why he joined, and he said that it was a family tradition. He was an excellent shot when he joined, so he was the sniper. He was the designated trainer of the individuals in his boot camp, on how to shot. And, also, how to drive a big truck. Anytime I drove Mike somewhere, he would remind me that he trained people how to drive in the Army, I am sure that was a hint since my driving is not the greatest. His Army unit was on alert for the Cuban Missile Crisis. He much preferred their warmer weather, than having to be sent to Russia or Korea. He did not want frostbite fingers.

After the Army, he went to work for the Hess Corporation, started by running a gas station and then becoming the regional manager, working in the southern states. Back in those days, gasoline sales, were pretty consistent, if he showed up at the gas station that you were running, money was being pocketed, and they admitted it right when he walked in the door. He didn’t even have to ask them. The biggest thing that he did, was to get rid of segregated restrooms.

Later, he owned his own (Crown) gas station, for a number of years, right across from Atrium Health, Charlotte, on the corner of King Street and Ardsley Road. During the gas rationing phase, when you were able to get 5 gallons of gas on a certain day, at the end of the day when they were closing, the last person in line was told that he could fill up his tank if he did not let anyone else in line. This was way before credit cards, and he returned the gas station back to Crown, when he was ready to retire.

Mike then joined the Union County Master Gardener Volunteer program, we were a small group that met occasionally. Before the master gardeners had a home to call their own, we worked on tree and plant sales, completed more than a dozen projects, including Habitat, Turning Point, and Wolfe School. At that time the county was just in the planning phase of a new Agricultural Building on US 74. NC State in Raleigh decided that they were going to decide what we were going to have access to in the building and what we were going to plant. This did not sit well with any of us in Union County, he and Betty Muldrow, were able to take that over. During the years Mike served as Vice President in 1999-2000, and then President from 2000 through 2007. Under his tenure we obtained our first 501c, established a board of directors, setup the greenhouse and teaching gardens.

Mike lived in the Town of Wesley Chapel and it was not incorporated at that time. Mike (Mayor Pro Temp) and Al Black (Mayor) were able to setup a Board of Directors and become Incorporated, before Indian Trail took over the Town. Mike was Mayor Pro Temp from 1999-2003, and Mayor for the years 2004 and 2005.

Mike was a proud Army Veteran and a huge Notre Dame Fan. He loved his pets, his garden, and his wife Shirley. He had a huge personality and a big heart.

He is predeceased in death by a son, James Morris Hafey.

There will be no funeral service. Burial will be in Fabion Cemetery, Cocke County, Parrottsville, Tennessee.

Donations are being requested to your local veteran’s organization.