Billy Reay “Poppy” Hackney, 98, passed away peacefully on Monday, July 11, 2022, at the Tygart Center in Fairmont. He was born Oct. 30, 1923, in Morgantown, the son of Reay D. and Bertha O. Smith Hackney.
Billy retired as a professional firefighter with the City of Morgantown with 24 years of service. Billy was a veteran of the United States Navy and served on the USS Pennsylvania during World War II. He was honorably discharged on Feb. 25, 1946.
He was affectionally known as Poppy to everyone he met. During his retirement, he kept busy with his farm and maintaining his rental properties. He was a family man to the end and cherished his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. They don’t make them like Poppy anymore.
Poppy was preceded in death by his wife, Betty Jean Hackney and his son, the Rev. David M. White; and siblings, Norman Hackney, Marjorie Hackney Allgauer and Lilian Hart Kessler.
Poppy is survived by his four grandchildren, Missi White (Patrick Kendall), of Huntersville, N.C., Kim George, David M. White II and Tanner White, all of Morgantown; great-grandchildren, Nick Ely, Brandon Ely, Jesse Ely, Ryan Malott, Morgan Malott, Madison George and Haley White; two great-grandchildren, Autumn and Thomas Ely; brother-in-law, Ed Kessler, of Arlington, Va.; daughter-in-law, Joyce Rodeheaver White; and several nieces and nephews.
Honoring his wishes, friends, and family will be received at the Fred L. Jenkins Funeral Home, from 11 a.m.-noon on Thursday, July 14. A graveside service will follow at the Beverly Hills Memorial Gardens with Pastor Allen Donham officiating. Military rites will be conducted by the Preston County Honor Guard and the U.S. Navy, Mid-Atlantic.
Condolences:
www.fredjenkinsfuneralhome.com
