This isn’t a notice of death. This isn’t an obituary.
This is a celebration of life!
This is a celebration of the life of Floyd Edwin Haynes, born March 1st, 1935, in Logan County, Nebraska.
It is a celebration of a naughty little boy, the 2nd of 6 children, that said things like, “Dallas, do you want me to frow your hammer in the cistern? And Dallas said “yep” so I frowed it in!” And, “We frowed Dallas’s kitty in the tank twice, and he almost drowned!” Poor grandma Haynes really had her hands full!
It is a celebration of a boy raised on a ranch in Purdum, NE in the Sandhills that never met a horse that he couldn’t understand, or break; and who loved riding the hills checking fences and cattle on his Uncle Chet Paxton’s ranch, helping out at brandings, his own family’s or a neighbors; and hunting the hills and enjoying all of the bounty they provided.
He said, “Give me a bronco or a mountain lion and I can handle it. But give me an iPad…”
It is the celebration of a young man that met and fell in love with his soul mate, Cleo Dee Richards, of Sargent, NE, the summer of 1959 when they both worked in the forest at the Bessey Nursery in Halsey pulling trees. Mom always said they met in a tree patch.
They had a whirlwind romance and married on December 20, 1959.
It is the celebration of family started by Floyd and Cleo beginning with Mark Lee, Emory Lynn, Doris Nadine, and Monte Wade. It is a celebration of a father that was there for his family. Working hard as a carpenter after apprenticing with Gene Horst, he provided for his family and took great pride in all of the houses and buildings he and Gene built in the area over the years, including the Nebraska State 4-H Camp that just recently burned to the ground.
They built the camp in 1962, and parts of it burned down in the forest fire on May 4th of 1965, so they rebuilt it. Over the years, after Gene retired, dad continued to add to and update the facilities for the camp. After the camp burned down last summer, in 2022, dad commented, “Well, I don’t think I’ll be able to help rebuild it this time.”
It is the celebration of a father that made time for his family, suddenly waking up on a nice summer day, cancelling work and saying, “Come on kids, let’s go fishing!”
Swimming in the river, camping on the Dismal, grilling in the yard, sitting on the swing bench enjoying a cool evening breeze and an occasional cold brew, (the cheaper the better), chopping wood for the stove, and sitting by it enjoying its soul soothing warmth, were all part of the things he treasured.
It is a celebration of an older couple whose children all grew up and started families of their own and moved away, leaving them to live quietly surrounded be the neighbors and friends in Halsey that they had lived with for generations. It was home. It was comfortable. It was in their bones. They had each other, and visits from the children and grandchildren, and eventually great grandchildren, and it was enough.
Eventually they moved to Callaway, NE to be closer to their sons and the doctors, and found a warm, welcoming community filled with some of their oldest and dearest neighbors from Halsey, and many new friends. They were happy, welcomed, and content.
It is the celebration of a husband that lost his wife after nearly 60 years of marriage, and had such a strong connection with, and love for her that even after she was gone, she was always with him.
It is a celebration of the fact that now after 3 1/2 years apart, as of January 30th, 2023, Floyd and Cleo are once again together in Heaven and dad no longer has to search for her or miss her every day.
It is time to celebrate, and remember the life he lived, the lives he touched, and the memories we share. Thank you, Dad. We love you and can’t wait to see you again one day in Heaven!
Floyd Haynes is preceded in death by his parents, Loyd and Ivy Haynes, his sister Doris Ellen and his wife Cleo.
He is also survived by three brothers Dallas (Thelma) Haynes of Syracuse, NE, Stanley (Janet) Haynes from St. Cloud. MN, and Willis (Betty) Haynes of Cambridge, NE. Floyd’s elder brother Orville Haynes of North Platte, NE has also recently passed away, within a couple of months after Floyd.
Floyd Haynes is survived by his 4 children Mark (Rhonda) of Broken Bow, Emory (Susan) Haynes of Broken Bow, Doris (Masahiro) Matsukawa of Kawasaki Japan and Monte Haynes of Fullerton, NE; eight grandchildren, Clinton (Megan) Haynes of Weston, NE and Leigh (Matthew) Stutzman of Callaway, Christine (Tommy) Tran, Jason (Tabitha) Haynes and Minji Haynes all of Lincoln, NE and Kenta, Alissa and Erika Matsukawa of Japan. Floyd has twelve great-grandchildren.
Services will be held for Floyd E. Haynes at 11:00am on Saturday, June 3rd, 2023, in Callaway, NE at the Callaway Community Church with a luncheon being held at the Callaway Community Center immediately following services. lnurnment will be at 3:00p.m. at the Custer Center Cemetery in Broken Bow with Military Honors.