Valjean "Val" Matthews Haley
October 13, 1932 — September 28, 2014
VALJEAN “VAL” MATTHEWS HALEY
Valjean (Val) Matthews Haley, age 81, left a legacy of strong demeanor, unwavering loyalty, and personal honor and respect. Mr. Haley passed away Sunday at his home in suburban Boynton Beach surrounded by his wife, Joyce, family and friends. He is survived by his children Kim Haley, Valerie Chamberlin (Craig) and Brenda Arnold. Grandsons, Matthew and Taylor and granddaughters, Rochelle, Katharine and Lauren.
Haley moved to Boynton Beach with his family from Leeds Missouri at the age of 9. Mr. Haley began his work life with in the military followed by law enforcement and as General Manager of DuBois Farms.
His law enforcement career began with the Palm Beach Police Department and then moved to the Palm Beach County Sheriff"s Office in the 1960s. He rose through the ranks quickly becoming the Captain of the Vice Squad and several years later assuming command of the Delray Beach Substation of the Sheriff’s Office. He was affectionately known as the “Marlboro Man” for his great personal inner strength.
Capt. Haley led the Vice Unit under former Sheriff William R. Heidtman during the turbulent early 70s when drug and narcotics importation into Palm Beach County became an epidemic. Haley and his unit arrested the first person ever charged with possession and sale of Heroin in Palm Beach County.
Probably the most famous case, making national headlines, was the investigation involving the crucifixion of a young woman by the leaders of the Outlaw Motorcycle gang in the 1970s. Haley led an investigation that carried him to Detroit, where, with the help of Michigan authorities, he arrested those responsible for the reprehensible crime. Sheriff Heidtman and then Governor Claude Kirk greeted Capt. Haley at the airport upon his return with the prisoners to Palm Beach County.
Val married Joyce Dubois, also a Sheriff's Office detective in the early 70’s and they became a law enforcement power couple when Joyce shifted over to the Florida Department of Corrections as a Probation and Parole Officer.
When Val left the Sheriff's Office in the late 70’s, he began working as the General Manager of Dubois farms. He stayed with them until his retirement, and became a major troubleshooter for them and other agriculture interests in their necessary interactions with federal and state water and natural resource regulators.
Val was an avid hunter, fisherman, and a life long adventurer. He enjoyed big game hunting, fishing and white water rafting. His greatest enjoyment was spent at the Muddbone Hunt Club, in the woods or on the water with lifelong friends and family.
Friends will be received from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM and 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM on Friday, October 3, 2014 at Scobee-Combs-Bowden Funeral Home, corner of US Hwy. #1 & NE 15th Avenue, Boynton Beach. The Funeral Service will be held at 2:00 PM on Saturday, October 4, 2014 at the First Baptist Church, 301 North Seacrest Blvd., Boynton Beach with Dr. Walter Buzwell McNutt officiating. Interment with Military Honors will follow at Boynton Beach Memorial Park.
Valjean (Val) Matthews Haley, age 81, left a legacy of strong demeanor, unwavering loyalty, and personal honor and respect. Mr. Haley passed away Sunday at his home in suburban Boynton Beach surrounded by his wife, Joyce, family and friends. He is survived by his children Kim Haley, Valerie Chamberlin (Craig) and Brenda Arnold. Grandsons, Matthew and Taylor and granddaughters, Rochelle, Katharine and Lauren.
Haley moved to Boynton Beach with his family from Leeds Missouri at the age of 9. Mr. Haley began his work life with in the military followed by law enforcement and as General Manager of DuBois Farms.
His law enforcement career began with the Palm Beach Police Department and then moved to the Palm Beach County Sheriff"s Office in the 1960s. He rose through the ranks quickly becoming the Captain of the Vice Squad and several years later assuming command of the Delray Beach Substation of the Sheriff’s Office. He was affectionately known as the “Marlboro Man” for his great personal inner strength.
Capt. Haley led the Vice Unit under former Sheriff William R. Heidtman during the turbulent early 70s when drug and narcotics importation into Palm Beach County became an epidemic. Haley and his unit arrested the first person ever charged with possession and sale of Heroin in Palm Beach County.
Probably the most famous case, making national headlines, was the investigation involving the crucifixion of a young woman by the leaders of the Outlaw Motorcycle gang in the 1970s. Haley led an investigation that carried him to Detroit, where, with the help of Michigan authorities, he arrested those responsible for the reprehensible crime. Sheriff Heidtman and then Governor Claude Kirk greeted Capt. Haley at the airport upon his return with the prisoners to Palm Beach County.
Val married Joyce Dubois, also a Sheriff's Office detective in the early 70’s and they became a law enforcement power couple when Joyce shifted over to the Florida Department of Corrections as a Probation and Parole Officer.
When Val left the Sheriff's Office in the late 70’s, he began working as the General Manager of Dubois farms. He stayed with them until his retirement, and became a major troubleshooter for them and other agriculture interests in their necessary interactions with federal and state water and natural resource regulators.
Val was an avid hunter, fisherman, and a life long adventurer. He enjoyed big game hunting, fishing and white water rafting. His greatest enjoyment was spent at the Muddbone Hunt Club, in the woods or on the water with lifelong friends and family.
Friends will be received from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM and 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM on Friday, October 3, 2014 at Scobee-Combs-Bowden Funeral Home, corner of US Hwy. #1 & NE 15th Avenue, Boynton Beach. The Funeral Service will be held at 2:00 PM on Saturday, October 4, 2014 at the First Baptist Church, 301 North Seacrest Blvd., Boynton Beach with Dr. Walter Buzwell McNutt officiating. Interment with Military Honors will follow at Boynton Beach Memorial Park.
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