William Frank "Haney" Counts of Steelville, Missouri was born April 9, 1944 at Keysville, Missouri to Arthur Lee Counts Sr. and Eula Juanita Eaton Counts and passed away Tuesday, September 8, 2026 at the age of 82 years, 4 months and 30 days.
He married Darlene Boyd. After Darlene's passing, he married Connie Santhuff on January 28, 1989.
Haney was a 1961 Steelville graduate.
He went on to honorably serve his country in the U.S. Navy until 1965.
He was employed at Pea Ridge Mines, as an over-the-road truck driver, dump truck driver and then worked several years for West Asphalt as a driver and plant supervisor.
He and his father-in-law also owned and operated S & C Trucking.
Haney was a talented welder and mechanic who had the knack to be able to build and repair just about anything.
In his spare time, he enjoyed watching NASCAR, building wagons for teams of horses and mules, deer hunting and running his fox hounds. “Haney’s Fox Pen” was a very popular spot for many locals to bring their hounds to run. He was a long-time member of the Crawford County Fox Hunters Association.
He was preceded in death by his parents-in-law, Sidney and Wilma Boyd and Bob and Lelah Santhuff; brothers, Gary (Joyce) Counts, Tom (Priss) Counts, Earl (Ermalee) Counts and Lee (Mary) Counts; sister, Wilma Mae (Everett) Williams; and brother-in-law, Jim Boyd.
He is survived by his wife of 37 years, Connie Counts of Steelville, Missouri; daughter, Kimberly Wallen of Steelville, Missouri; sisters-in-law, Laura Counts of Paris, Tennessee and Carol Boyd of Fredericktown, Missouri; brothers-in-law, Don (Gina) Santhuff and John (Karen) Santhuff; grandchildren, Kyle (Heather) Wallen and Cody (Aleksandra) Wallen; three great grandchildren, Brooklyn, Vivian and Lillian all of Steelville, Missouri; other relatives and friends.
Visitation was held from 5-7 p.m. on Sunday, September 13, 2026 at the Britton-Bennett Funeral Home in Steelville, Missouri.
Funeral services were held at 1 p.m. on Monday, September 14, 2026 at the Britton-Bennett Funeral Home in Steelville, Missouri with Rev. Jerry Beers officiating. Special music of "When I Get Where I Am Going," "How Great Thou Art" and "Go Rest High" was played.
Committal prayer and interment with Full Military Honors by the U. S. Navy were in the Steelville Cemetery.
Honored to be casket bearers were Zach Sterling, Lonnie Halbert, Richie Counts, Randy Williams, George Counts, Kyle Wallan and Cody Wallan with Jerry Setzer and Ken Halbert as honorary.
Arrangements under the direction of the Britton-Bennett Funeral Home in Steelville, Missouri.
