Haley Erin Burns

Haley is survived by her husband, Scott; her two sons, Braden and Kyle; her mother and stepfather, Pamela and Dennis Keister; her stepmother, Sandy Wright; her siblings Kelle (Craig) Barron, Alexis (Jeff) Haas, Abbey (Zach) Peterson, and Katie Wright; her brother-in-law and sister-in law, Mark and Holley Burns; and her beloved nieces and nephews, Marlee, Cleo, Brody, Brooke, Reddick, and Austen. She was preceded in death by her father, Darrell Wright; her father-in-law and mother-in-law, Larry and Bridget Burns; her grandparents, Jim and Joan Wemmert, B and Evelyn Keister, and Darrell and Georgia Wright.

Haley was born December 19, 1978, in Racine, Wisconsin, and was raised in Kingwood, Texas. She graduated from Kingwood High School and later attended Texas Tech University and Lone Star College. She built a career as a cosmetologist, working in several high-end salons where she loved helping people look and feel their best. She later became a cosmetology professor at Lone Star College, sharing her talent and passion with the next generation of stylists. Haley’s talent didn’t stop at the salon. She was also the go-to hairstylist for her sisters, parents, friends, and just about anyone who needed it. Many of her nieces and nephews received their very first haircuts from Haley. Even during her cancer journey, she never stopped doing what she loved. From a chair and mirror set up in her dining room, Haley became the “Kitchen Beautician,” keeping a full schedule of neighborhood moms and kids.

Haley was fiercely loyal to the people she loved. She was a a sharp-witted wife who kept life interesting, a mama bear to her boys, a ride-or-die friend, a funny, tell-it-like-it-is daughter and sister, and an aunt who was always ready to sneak candy, give a hug, share a laugh, or provide a haircut, makeup, or fashion advice. Her honesty and unmistakable facial expressions meant you always knew exactly where you stood. If you were in Haley’s circle, you knew you always had someone firmly in your corner. She loved beach vacations with Scott and the boys, spent many cozy nights watching Law & Order: SVU, and found comfort in the voice of Keith Morrison narrating true crime shows. She also loved time with her friends – whether it was a night out, a long conversation, or simply being together. Haley had a gift for friendship and carried close friends with her from every stage of her life. The number of people who consider her a dear friend speaks to the kind of person she was and how naturally people were drawn to her.

At the center of Haley’s life was her partnership with her husband, Scott, who never failed to make her laugh. Their relationship was built on love, sarcasm, and a deep friendship that carried them through every season of life. Together, they built a life centered around their two sons, Braden and Kyle, who were truly her whole world. She went from knowing very little about sports to becoming the ultimate sports mom. She learned the rules, showed up whenever she could, and cheered loudly for her boys. She embraced whatever her boys were passionate about, going all in on sports, reptiles, video games, and characters she never would have discovered on her own. Watching them grow and succeed was one of the greatest joys of her life, and she was endlessly proud of the young men they are becoming.

Haley spent most of her life terrified of needles and doctors. But when she was diagnosed with cancer, she faced it with a courage that amazed everyone who knew her. Determined to fight for more time with her family, she endured treatments and surgeries that would intimidate even the bravest people, including months in Pittsburgh undergoing what doctors call “the Mother of All Surgeries,” an aggressive and terrifying procedure performed in hopes of giving patients more time. Throughout her fight, Haley leaned on the unwavering love of her family, especially the close bond she shared with her mom, Pammi, who was by her side through countless appointments, treatments, and long days of recovery. She hated every moment of what cancer demanded of her, but she showed up anyway, driven by one thing - her love for Scott, Braden, and Kyle. Above all else, the life she built with Scott and their boys was what made her most proud, and the love she poured into her family will always remain her greatest legacy.

All who were lucky enough to have loved Haley know that her love, loyalty, and spirit will never truly leave them.

A celebration of Haley’s life will be held Friday, March 13 at 4:00 p.m. at Kingwood Methodist Church, 1799 Woodland Hills Drive, Kingwood, Texas. All who loved Haley and her family are welcome to join in remembering and celebrating her life.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Haley’s honor to support appendix cancer research. Appendix cancer is an extremely rare but rapidly increasing cancer, and Haley believed deeply in the work of the surgeon in Pittsburgh who cared for her. She had great respect for her medical team there and hoped that supporting their research would help future patients and families facing this disease.

Donations can be made to AHN Office of Development, with the memo line “Bartlett Cancer Research Fund in memory of Haley Burns” and mailed to:

PO Box 535604 Pittsburgh, PA 15253-5604

Or online using the following link: Bartlett Cancer Research Fund – Allegheny Health Network

https://www.supportahn.org/site/Donation2?df_id=2360&2360.donation=form1&mfc_pref=T