Obituary
Kitt (Mae Reaser, 98) Haney, of Ormond Beach, Florida, passed away on December 11, 2021 after a long and fruitful life. Born on October 15, 1923 in Big Cane, Louisiana, Kitt was raised in Port Arthur, Texas. She graduated from high school and then worked as the entertainment reporter for the Port Arthur News until she married Russell Haney at the end of World War II. Moving to Gainesville, Florida, Kitt became a telephone operator for Southern Bell Telephone and worked in the family plant nursery, Ruskit Nursery. In 1959, Kitt and her family relocated to the Daytona Beach area. She worked as the office manager and then treasurer of Cunningham Oil Company for 33 years, helping the company to enter the digital world.
After retiring at the age of 70, Kitt traveled with the Friendship Force in the United States, Europe, China, Japan, Thailand, Alaska, and Hawaii, making friends wherever she went. She also joined a writer’s group and published stories in the anthology Ormond Writers’ Workshop 2019. Later, she independently published Kitt’s Kronicles, a book of her memoirs.
Kitt loved people. She enjoyed being in a gathering of any kind, and was happiest having a house full of people, cooking for them, and trading stories. A common phrase from her was, “Are you hungry?” followed by a long list of food choices, and it was best if you selected something.
She dearly loved her children, their spouses, and her grandchildren, including the great-grands and great-great-grands, and was quick to brag on everyone’s accomplishments and successes. Kitt tried very hard to remember everyone’s birthday and took great joy in selecting gifts for all occassions. She also loved celebrating her own birthday, and looked forward to it every year.
Kitt loved her little beach house, and she was blessed with her wish to die at home with all her children around her. She is survived by her children, Jolinda Haney McLellan, Don R. Haney, Cheryl Hamrick (Mrs. Milton Hamrick of Chattanooga, TN), Starla Haney-Swart (Mrs. Michael Swart of Ormond Beach, FL), and Terri Price (Mrs. Don Price of Bunnell, FL.) She leaves 16 grandchildren, 26 great-grandchildren, and 3 great-great-grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations to Halifax Health Hospice, 3800 Woodbriar Trail, Port Orange, Florida 32129.
Kitt Haney