Ray Haines

Ray Haines Ray Haines (74) took off on his final flight to be with his Lord and Savior on Wednesday, January 25, 2012, at 5:50 a.m. with his best friend and life-time love, Pat, at his side. Ray will be remembered for his short but valiant battle with lung and brain cancer. Ray's zest for life, optimistic outlook, and infectious smile were his trademarks. Ray was born November 10, 1937 in Clovis, NM to Alton Leroy Haines, Sr. and Jimmie Pearl Waide Haines. He grew up in the ranching country in southeastern New Mexico including Portales, Mayhill, Roswell, and Santa Rosa, graduating from high school at Portales High in 1956. He joined the U.S. Air Force in 1956 with the goal of becoming a pilot. After diligently studying to become number one in his class, he qualified for the Air Force Academy only to have his hopes crushed when he was found to be color-blind. He was discharged from the Air Force in 1958 and married Patty Jean Morrison on May 25, 1958. After a varied career, always striving to provide better for his family, he managed to obtain his private pilot's license by studying on his own for the written exam and taking lessons during his lunch hour. He then used Veteran's Education Benefits to obtain his commercial, instrument, and instructor's licenses. He was employed by Abilene Aero until moving to San Angelo, TX as a pilot for Pool Company. He had a challenging and interesting career with Pool Company, rising to Chief Pilot of Pool Company and Enserch Corporation. Preferring to remain in San Angelo, he resigned from Pool/Enserch in 1980 rather than relocate to Houston. At that time he opened Ray's Rod and Gun on Knickerbocker Road, taking advantage of his lifetime love of hunting and fishing. He returned to his first love, aviation, at GTE as Flight Operations Specialist from 1985 until his retirement in 1998. Ray always approached anything he did with passion. For him, computers were both a job and a hobby, as he maintained several small business networks during the late 1990's in an after-hours business. He was one of the first to purchase an IBM personal computer in San Angelo and continued this interest to his final days, building many computers from parts and trying a variety of software packages. In addition to hunting, fishing, and computing, Ray was an avid golfer, woodworker, wood turner, photographer, and geocacher. He particularly enjoyed traveling in their motorhome in order to show Pat some of the country he had seen during his flying years. He and Pat recently studied and achieved their ham radio operator's licenses which they used extensively during their travels. Ray also loved to cook for his friends - low country boil and fajitas were specialties. Ray is survived by the love of his life, Pat, and two lovely daughters: Janet Lynn "Penny" Haines Johnsen (Dwayne) of Pooler, Georgia, and Pamela Kay Haines Hayworth (Todd) of Mount Pleasant, North Carolina; one grandson, Cody J Hayworth of Mount Pleasant, North Carolina and a new great grandson, Henry Ray Hayworth. Ray also has a sister-in-law, Linda Haines of Amarillo, Texas, one brother and sister-in-law, Jerry D. and Helen Haines of Jacksonville, Florida, as well as one niece and five nephews and their respective families. Family members deceased before Ray were his brother, Alton Leroy Haines, Jr. and his parents Alton Leroy Haines, Sr. and Jimmie Pearl Haines. At Ray's request, there will be no memorial service as his remains will be cremated and the ashes retained to be combined with those of Pat at the time of her death. Pat and the girls will have a private memorial at a later date. Visitation will be held at Robert Massie Funeral Home on Friday, February 3, 2012, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, please make any memorials to Hospice of San Angelo or the charity of your choice. The family wishes to thank Doctors Denver Marsh, Timothy Hopkins, and James Studt for their conscientious and loving care. Everyone who touched Ray's life from Hospice of San Angelo has indeed been a blessing with their loving and supportive care. Those we met personally: Mike Andress, Chaplain; Karen Schmeltekopf, Bereavement Counselor; Kevin Wade, Counselor; Cynthia Baca, Admissions; Nurses: Tiffany Clark, Deborah Webb, Summer Clement, Charlene Perry. Rene Rendon, and Darla Teague; and Victoria Ramirez, CNA. Special thanks go to two young women Ray and Pat considered like daughters: Laren Green of San Angelo and Tricia Campbell of Lubbock, TX. Also special thanks to two of Ray's good friends for their assistance and support during this devastating illness: Mike Boyd and Ron Grantham. Ray, Thank you for the laughter, for the good times we shared. Thank you for always listening, for trying to be fair. Thank you for the shoulder to cry on, when I am sad. Thank you for the comfort, when things are going bad. Thank you for being there, your company I relish. Thank you for being you, your friendship I cherish! Don't walk in front of me, I may not follow; Don't walk behind me, I may not lead; Just walk beside me and be my friend.