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HAMPTON, Va. (WAVY) — Able to do extra fishing, searching and dwelling the great life, Keith Henley was months away from the retirement that he was dwelling for, however was to not be.
Keith Thomas Henley, 58, of Windfall Forge in New Kent County, was set to retire quickly from Philip Morris in Richmond. He was on a ship final week fishing, doing one thing he beloved, when he jumped overboard to retrieve a fishing internet a couple of mile-and-a-half from Grandview Seashore in Hampton. His physique has not been discovered and he’s presumed useless.
Officials identify man missing in water off Grandview Beach in Hampton
His spouse, Daybreak Henley, pulled out a photograph of the “traditional Keith Henley” — cigarette hanging out of his mouth, an enormous smile on his face, standing along with his searching buddy, David Williams, generally known as D.W.
“D.W. referred to as him ‘hair on hearth’ as a result of he was all the time going from one factor to a different … and simply staying busy,” Daybreak Henley stated.
One other photograph exhibits Keith Henley with a 42-point deer.
It was clear he beloved to hunt.
He carved ruddy, blue-billed geese, lovely carvings his spouse was holding.
Final August, Keith Henley purchased an influence boat constructed by Parker.
One or two days earlier than he died, he caught his largest cobia ever — there’s an image of that too.
It was clear he beloved to fish.
Then, final Thursday, July 11 Keith Henley was fishing with a co-worker when his spouse obtained a name from the U.S. Coast Guard.
“The particular person stated, ‘I obtained some dangerous information [for] you,’” Daybreak Henley stated, recalling the dialog. “‘Your husband jumped within the water to get a internet’ — I used to be not shocked that he jumped into the water after a internet. He was impulsive. I might see that taking place. I might see him doing that, then saying, ‘Oh no, what have I completed.’”
His good friend on the boat with him was unable to get him again into the boat, and Daybreak Henley stated that co-worker at Philip Morris is devastated.
“I gained’t say who it’s — he calls on a regular basis [and] he feels horrible,” Daybreak Henley stated. “He was attempting to get him a rope and he simply went below. He stated he noticed him come up and go down. He stated he needed to get the anchor up. I don’t assume he knew tips on how to function the automated anchor. He stated he was about 10 yards from him — so shut.”
Daybreak Henley advised us her husband’s good friend had been within the boat earlier than.
“Keith anticipated so much from folks with out giving them correct instruction,” she stated. “The life jackets had been put away, and I used to be shocked he couldn’t tread water for 5 minutes. I’m questioning if he had some kind of a coronary heart assault on the market. We’re advised he died from unintended drowning.”
Up to now week, Daybreak Henley has been reflecting — emotional, remembering joyful occasions with a person she knew most of her life from highschool to marriage.
In direction of the tip of the interview Daybreak obtained emotional.
“You already know — maintain on, so I might say,” she stated, then clearing her throat and placing up her head.
“What flashes in my head — he was so bigger than life,” she stated. “He was all the time going from one factor to the following, attempting to dwell life to the fullest. Now, I’m left with pondering of Keith out within the water, afraid.”
The early years
Keith and Daybreak Henley have been highschool sweethearts.
“He was a bit too previous for me, so we broke up and married different folks,” she stated.
About 30 years later, he noticed a discover of her dad and mom’ 50-year anniversary.
“I used to be listed with no partner,” she stated. “So he reached out to me. He despatched me a card and stated, ‘Hey, in the event you ever wish to speak concerning the final 30 years, give me a name.”
That decision would finally finish in marriage on Could 18, 2019.
“He was a nature boy,” she stated. “I referred to as him Natty Bumppo from James Fenimore Cooper’s Leather-based Stocking Tales. He might by no means get it proper. He would name himself Daddy Beachamp. I stated, ‘No, it’s Natty Bumppo.”
She all the time thought her husband had an actual expertise for carving, and he or she wished he had continued to pursue it.
“He had a variety of potential there,” she stated. “The truth is, we have been going to enter his geese in a contest in White Stone after which COVID hit, and so they canceled the competitors.”
She remembers him this manner.
“All the things he did consumed him,” she stated. “If he was fishing, that was his life. If he was carving, that was his life. He’s making moonshine?
“That’s his life, .”
Memorial Service
There can be a memorial service for Keith Henley at 2 p.m. Sunday, July 21 on the Poquoson Yacht Membership, 417 Messick Street.
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