Through art, community, and the spirit of giving, Palee Haney from Kalamazoo has found a way to honor her sister, Chadapron Haney—affectionately known as “Guy.”
“Guy was a force,” Palee said. “She was incredibly generous, a fashionista, and probably the healthiest person in our family.”
Palee shared that her sister lived in a way that made others feel seen and valued. She donated her designer clothes and shoes to women in need, ensuring they could step into new chapters of their lives with confidence. She believed in connecting people, in making them feel special, and in always embracing life’s little luxuries.
“My sister was living in Florida at the time of her passing,” she said. “She was cleaning her attic preparing for a visit with her bestie when she fell. We got the call and flew down there immediately.”
Guy’s family came in from across the country to be with her. When they arrived at the hospital, they weren’t aware if she was a registered donor but knew it would be something she would do. It wasn’t until they located her license later that it was confirmed that she was a registered donor. Guy’s generosity saved two lives that day.
“The team down there was just amazing,” Palee said. “We knew that we wanted to do something. Moving forward with donation was a no brainer for us.”
Due to the timing of Guy’s passing (during Covid), Palee didn’t feel she was able to truly honor her sister the way she wanted to. In 2022 she decided to host a fundraiser at Art Bayou, the paint-your-own-pottery studio she owns in Portage. She set out a table with photos of Guy along with giveaway items of her sister’s favorite things, including sunflower packets and sour cream and onion potato chips.
That one event led Palee to create a way to give back year-round. She created clay magnet butterflies that guests could paint every day.
“When she would visit, we would go to the butterfly gardens and she always felt they were really beautiful,” she said. “I wanted to pick something that if I made it, wouldn’t be so specific to her, but would also resonate with other people. I have a ‘Donate Life’ sign next to the butterflies so that people know when they paint it, half the proceeds are donated back to Gift of Life.”
The magnets and signs at Art Bayou have inspired others to share their own connection to donation.
“Sometimes people share their stories when they see my ‘Donate Life’ pin on my apron,” she said. “It’s super meaningful to me because they tell me about their person.”
In remembering Guy, Palee has also changed how she approaches life.
“Guy had a real zest for life,” she shared. “She really taught me that tomorrow is not given. I changed the way I lived my life after this happened. We take the trips. I wear the things with rhinestones now and with much more pizazz than ever before.”
This year, Art Bayou is hosting a special fundraiser in honor of Guy’s generous act during National Donate Life Month on April 25. For more information visit artbayoustudio.com.
More than 2,600 patients in Michigan are waiting for that lifesaving organ. The best way to save lives is by joining the Michigan Organ Donor Registry. To join, visit golm.org/signup.
