Ben Hasten

Bennie Walton Hasten (Ben), son of Bennie Bob and Tully Louise Simpson Hasten, was born on August 9, 1951 in Gilmer, Texas. He was a 1970 graduate of Gilmer High School, where he played football and was an honor student. He was active in scouting as a young man and was a member of First Methodist Church, Gilmer. Ben graduated with Honors in Political Science from the University of Houston. As a U of H student, he served an internship for Senator Loyd Bentson in Washington D.C. Ben spent his career in international finance and recently retired from the firm of Stifel Nicholaus. An avid reader, Ben collected first edition books and loved reading all genres, but especially mysteries. His love for hunting extended from the woods of East Texas to big game in Africa. After his move to Colorado 15 years ago, he had many opportunities to pursue his interest in fly-fishing. He was also a wine collector and a gourmet cook. He loved to do the cooking for tailgate parties for the University of Colorado Buffalo football team. Ben married his high school sweetheart Susan Davis Hasten, and they recently celebrated their 41st wedding anniversary. They are the parents of three daughters Dana Michelle Hasten Attlan and her husband Charlie of Boston, MA., Jennifer Louise Hasten Jones and her husband Adam of Kokomo, IN., and Jessica Ann Hasten of Dallas. He was devoted to his three grandchildren, Nicholas Jones and Audrey and Juliette Attlan. He is survived by his wife, children and grandchildren. Ben was preceded in death by his parents Bennie (1926-1957) and Tully Louise (1928-1959) when he was a very young child, and he spent his youth with his grandfather Tully Fuller Simpson (1896-1965) and the family of Mary Lee and Jack "Spot" Baird in Gilmer. He is also preceded in death by his paternal grandparents Mr. And Mrs. James R. Hasten, his maternal grandparents Tully Fuller and Louise Simpson (1896-1958), Mary Lee and Spot Baird, his mother-in-law Sue Davis, and his favorite uncle and mentor Judge Gordon Simpson of Dallas. His great-great grandfather Joel Simpson was an early Postmaster for Upshur County, and his great grandparents Judge Robert Walton and Mrs. Simpson were early citizens of Gilmer, as well as Tyler, where Judge Simpson presided in District Court. Ben is also survived by his sister Sharon Hasten Penfold and her husband Craig, his niece Carlen Tully Penfold Long and her husband Derek, and nephew Clark Simpson Penfold and his wife Angela, all of Dallas. He is also survived by Jackie Baird of Houston, Jeff Baird and his wife Lana of Gilmer, Charles Baird and his wife Kristen of Austin, as well as nieces and nephews Lucy Baird Winn and her husband Shane, Bonnie Baird Jordon and her husband Josh, and Luke Baird of Gilmer, Oliva and William Baird of Austin, Cree Teel and his wife Christina, and Hunter and Hannah Davis of Van. His father-in-law Tom Davis of Gilmer and his sister-in-law Liz Davis Burns and her husband Richard of Longview also survive. Ben and Susan were traveling from their home in Colorado to share the Thanksgiving holidays with family in Dallas when he died unexpectedly. Memorials may be made to the Rocky Mountain Wildlife Conservation Center at www.wildanimalsanctuary.org or to the American Heart Association. Services will be 11:00 A.M., Wednesday, November 23, 2011, First United Methodist Church in Gilmer with Annette Breazeale officiating. Burial will follow at Gilmer City Cemetery under the direction of Croley Funeral Home-Gilmer. Pallbearers will be Jackie Baird, Jeff Baird, Charlie Baird, Charlie Attlan, Clark Penfold, Derek Long, Luke Baird, and Cree Teel. The family requests no scheduled visitation.