The Daily Oklahoman 
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
February 2, 2010

Cletus “Clete” Haegert III & Marjorie Jane Harris Haegert

Google searches don’t pull up a lot about Cletus “Clete” Haegert. Most of what I found is in conjunction with another man, Bob Frank, who had co-written songs with Clete for his 1972 debut album with Vanguard Records and throughout Frank’s music career. Frank has recently staged a come back, citing Haegert as not only a collaborator but friend. I went to Frank’s website. Pictures of a younger, smiling Haegert among a cast of music row insiders revealed more than a few pieces of this growing puzzle I was so hungry for.

Born and raised in Oklahoma, Clete set out for Nashville in the late 60’s to claim his fame and fortune. He was signed on as a songwriter in 1968 for Tree Publishing in Nashville, where he penned many moderate country hits for artists throughout the 70’s. Later Clete would publish songs for the late cowboy crooner Chris LeDoux.

He never wrote a number one hit, or became a household name. More importantly, it seemed Clete had an endless list of lifelong friends, folks with whom he’d weathered many storms and shared many wonderful memories. A lot can be learned about a man by the company he keeps, especially when it is company he has kept consistently throughout his life. Anyone in the music business can tell you, collaborators are many, but friends are few, and they’re never around long enough.

 

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Clete Haegert III

HAEGERT III, Mr. Clete Age 68, of Tims Ford Lake, Winchester, TN, formerly of Davidson County, died December 16, 2009. Visitation will be between 4 and 8 p.m. Tuesday, December 22, 2009 at Williamson Memorial Funeral Home & Gardens in Franklin, TN. Funeral service will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday, December 23, 2009 at same location. Burial will be in the Gardens. Family & friends will serve as pallbearers. Born to the late Pauline Reid & Cletus Haegert, Jr., Clete was reared on a farm north of Nash, OK. In 1967 he graduated from Phillips University in Enid, OK. After college he moved to Nashville, TN to pursue a career in the music industry. He married Suzanne Wilkes, and to this union his daughter Stacy was born. In 1968 Clete was signed by country music's famed Tree Publishing Company which later published his song "Children," recorded by Diana Trask. The song hit No. 54 on the Billboard charts and remained for weeks. He is best known for spearheading the launch of folk musician Bob Frank and was instrumental in orchestrating Frank's deal with Vanguard Records in 1972. Frank's album today is regarded as a collector's classic. He is also the publisher of songs recorded by late country music artist Chris LeDoux. In 1985, Clete formed the group White Crow, with whom he recorded and performed for many years. A renowned Nashville club fixture with his various songwriter configurations, including Old Rogues, Clete was in demand every St. Patrick's Day, rolling out his magnificent tenor voice as Clete O'Hagerty and his Irish Derry Aires. Legendary songwriter Mae Axton, writer of the Elvis Presley hit "Heartbreak Hotel," referred to Clete as the "Dean of Irish Honky Tonk," a phrase he liked. Clete was a member of Johnson Chapel Methodist Church in Brentwood. He was also a Mason. In 1995, Clete married Marjorie Harris Wingo of Nashville and they later moved to their home on Tims Ford Lake. Clete is survived by daughter, Stacy (Harrison) Rogers; sister, Dee Richards & grandson, Brayden Rogers, all of Nashville, and nephew, Jeff Richards. Clete was preceded in death by his wife, Marjorie; his parents & twin brothers who died soon after birth. Williamson Memorial Funeral Home

Marjorie Jane Harris Haegert

HAEGERT, Mrs. Marjorie Jane Harris Age 77 of Winchester, TN, formerly of Franklin, TN, November 20, 2009. Past Worthy Matron of the Order of Eastern Star of the John B. Garrett Lodge; R.N. at Baptist Hospital & Williamson Medical Center; Past Supervisor of Cumberland Hall Psychiatric Ward. Preceded in death by previous husband, James B. Harris, Sr. & grandson, Andy Sherrer. Survived by husband, Clete Haegert; son, James "Barry" Harris, Jr.; daughters, Margie "Gina" Sherrer, Leigh (Don) Morris, Lynne Woods & Sherri (John) Eason; step daughter, Stacy (Harrison) Rogers; grandchildren, Shelley & Shannon Eason, Dorothi Brown, Donnie, Christi & Daniel Morris, Robert Ingram, Al Woods II, Callie & Trey Harris, Brayden Haegert Rogers; great grandchildren, Taylor Sherrer, Trent Morris, MacKenzie Ingram & Eric Eason. Funeral services will be conducted 1 p.m. Tuesday, November 24, 2009 at Williamson Memorial Funeral Home, Rev. Don Morris officiating. Interment, Williamson Memorial Gardens. Active Pallbearers will be James "Barry" Harris, Jr., Gina Sherrer, Harrison Rogers and grandsons. Visitation will be 4-8 p.m. Monday at Williamson Memorial Funeral Home