Henry Ainslie Hair, Jr.

Henry Ainslie Hair, Jr. age 80, passed away peacefully with family present on Sunday afternoon, April 28, 2024. He was born in Mount Airy, North Carolina, on August 20, 1943, the son of H. Ainslie and Thelma Crawford Hair.

After graduating Mount Airy High School, he earned a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from North Carolina State University.  He served as an officer in the US Army, achieving the rank of Captain, as the Operations Officer in a Special Weapons Ordnance unit in Germany during the Vietnam era and Cold War.

He began work for Monsanto to develop acrylic fiber and nylon production plants, living in Holland before moving to St. Louis.  Henry contributed to the development of AstroTurf and then led field installation projects across the US.  Moving to the Seattle, Washington area, he sold and installed AstroTurf for NFL, MLB, and college teams, becoming a nation-wide leader in the sport field industry.

Henry was a devoted and loving husband, father, and grandfather, helping to raise two successful children.  He spent most of his adult life near Seattle, enjoying golf in his spare time.  In 2019, he moved to Southern Mississippi on a quest for better winter weather.

Henry is survived by Mona Hair, his wife of 50 years; daughter Margot Hair and her husband Gabriel Faggard; son, Jason Hair; grandson, Jack Hair; sister, Brenda Hennis; and numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, and other relatives.

There will be no services at this time. If you wish to make a memorial donation, please consider the American Diabetes Association or other charity of your choosing.