Timothy Wayne Hastings went Home peacefully to be with the Lord on Sunday, Jan. 16, 2022, in the care of Jefferson Hospital, Williamstown, NJ, due to complications from COVID-19. God called his son to return Home, for a joyous reunion with his family in Heaven.
“Timmy” as he was affectionately known by his family and friends, was born Nov. 26, 1945 in Milford to loving parents Hazel Janette (Whaley) and Leon Hastings. Paternal grandparents were Raymond and Rachel Hastings of Bridgeville. Maternal grandparents were H. McCready Whaley and Berdia (LeCates) Whaley of Laurel.
He will be fondly remembered as a very kind-hearted and gentle soul. He was both a visual artist, and a performing artist. Timmy attended Laurel High School, where he excelled in art using many different mediums – pencil, charcoal, watercolor, and oil paints. He was taught well by his beloved art teacher, Mr. Henry Progar. Timmy loved to spend as much time as humanly possible in his favorite environment, the woods and near the many bodies of water in his native Laurel. Once he would come back indoors, he was able to reproduce what he had seen in nature and create beautiful works of art by memory.
Another remarkable talent of his was his amazing ability to play guitar. Timmy never learned to read music, but played everything by ear. When he was a small boy, he asked if he could play his dad Leon’s guitar. Dad said yes, but only if he didn’t change the strings or tuning. So, Tim, being left-handed, had to learn all of his songs while playing the guitar upside down, and backwards.
He also had quite a beautiful singing voice and was known by many in his older years as “Boardwalk Willie.” This nickname came to him as he worked in Ocean City during the summer, playing on the boardwalk for tips. Tim knew nearly every Willie Nelson song, and would sing and play guitar, providing countless hours of entertainment to passers-by.
In the mid-1960s, Tim also played professionally in several popular area bands, Mike’s Messengers, and The Four Peace Band, to name a few.
Timmy was preceded in death by his wife, Terry E. (Hall) Hastings of Laurel; two brothers, David Lee Hastings of Seaford and Stephen Allen Hastings of Dagsboro; father Leon Hastings; stepfather Donald M. Brumbley; and mother Hazel (Whaley) Hastings Brumbley, all of Laurel.
Left to cherish his memories are two adult children, Rachel (Matt) Driscoll, and Leon (Lyndsay) Hastings of Maine; six grandchildren, Laurel and Callan Driscoll, Aiden, Gavin, Saorsa, and Finn Hastings, all of Maine; two siblings, Mark (Lora) Hastings and Beth Hastings Workman of Laurel; several nieces and nephews also survive him; special lifelong friends Jerry Murphy and wife Marsha of Laurel; and Jim Gaull, formerly of Laurel.
A memorial service will be held at a future date, the time and place will be announced once details are set. The family wishes to express their deepest appreciation to everyone, for their kind words and prayers.