Merile Antoinette Hobbs Halley

Halley Merile Antoinette Hobbs Halley died December 28, 2001 at Fairview University Medical Center from complications arising from liver failure. Merile Halley was born in New York City on June 10, 1944 to Jack Hobbs and Antonia Vitale. She graduated from high school in New York and moved to Duluth with her family in 1962. She attended the University of Minnesota at Duluth and moved to Minneapolis in 1966 where she graduated from the University of Minnesota with a Bachelor of Education degree in 1969. She appeared in several theatrical productions at the University in Duluth and in Minneapolis. In 1970 she married James Woods Halley, a physics professor at the University of Minnesota, who survives her. During the 1970s she taught at Bryant Junior High School for 2 years and then joined the Nancy Hauser Dance Company, first as a member of the apprentice group and then for 3 years in the touring company, performing in New York, Kansas City, Chicago, and many venues in the Upper Midwest. In 1978 she won a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Council and used it to stage a dance production at the Walker Art Center. In recent years she has cared for her two boys; Mark, 11, and Wilson, 14, who survive her. Merile Halley traveled extensively with her family including extended visits to California, Colorado, illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, Australia, England, and Italy. She is also survived by two sisters, Janice Hobbs of Rochester, Minnesota and Beverly Spiedel of Sand Diego, California. She will be sorely missed by her family, friends, and neighbors. A memorial service will be held at Andrew Riverside Presbyterian Church, 729 4th St. S.E., Minneapolis at 10 am on Wednesday, January 2, 2002. Washburn McReavy Southeast Chapel 612-379-2368

Published on December 31, 2001