The Haxtun-Fleming Herald - What can we reason but from what we know? -Alexander Pope

Gerald Dean "Lefty" Haynes passed away Oct. 28, 2020 at the age of 90 in Sterling with his loving family by his side.

Gerald was born Oct. 2, 1930 in Holyoke, the seventh child of 13, born to Mary (Noren) and Clyde W. Haynes. He attended school from first through eighth grade at Sunnyside District 3. The family moved to Dailey and he attended one year of school there. He then attended Fleming, graduating with the Class of 1948. During high school, Gerald played all sports, but his first love was baseball. He played every position but his favorites were first base, right field and pitcher. He played American Legion Baseball only one year because of the age restriction, but he played in every All-Star game in the Northeast Colorado and Western Nebraska for about 10 years. He also coached little league baseball for Donny and Dean's teams. He began officiating basketball during his senior year in high school. He continued to officiate basketball and football until Donny and Dean began to wrestle.

Upon graduation from Fleming High School, he went to Colorado A&M, now Colorado State University, on an academic scholarship. He got a teaching certificate in his freshman year. Because there was a shortage of teachers at that time, a student could teach while completing his degree.

His first teaching job was in a one-room schoolhouse, Stoney Buttes, in 1949. That school is located at the Overland Trail Museum today. He received $1,800 for that year and an additional $200 per month because he was also the school bus driver. He had to pay for his gas and insurance out of the $200. The school bus was actually his own car.

The next summer he played baseball for Peetz and was paid $200 per month plus room and board and all the whiskey he could drink! His room and board was with several different folks but mostly the Dean Bules family.

He met his true love, Leona Meyer, that summer of 1949 in Peetz and they began their 68-year married life together on Nov. 13, 1951. To that union, four children were born: Clydine Marie, Donny Dwayne, Donna Ruth and Gerald "Dean" Jr.

Gerald was then called to serve in the armed forces and joined the Marines. He went to San Diego, Calif. for basic training; after which, Leona joined him until they relocated to Cherry Point, N.C. During his time in boot camp, he wrote Leona a letter every day. She still has every one of those letters. Gerald was a teletype operator and communications specialist in the Marine Corps, serving from 1951-1953. He was honorably discharged as a Corporal in 1953, and they relocated to Fleming, where he worked for Mr. Breezeley and taught fifth grade for one year. He received $3,200 for that year. He next taught in Padroni as an elementary teacher, teaching sixth, seventh and eighth grade math and social studies. He also coached junior high basketball.

They next moved north of Sterling and farmed for Mr. Blake, Lyle Dobson and the Pedroni Brothers. On Nov. 5, 1958, Gerald and Leona were in a near fatal accident, which ended his farming days and brought them to Sterling where he sold mutual funds and insurance. He later became associated with a dentist in Chappell, Neb. who had invented caps for cows' teeth and traveled nationwide to educate and introduce veterinarians to the concept of caps for cows' teeth. He then managed the Legion for five years, the Bluebird Lounge for five years, and then he and Leona bought the Silver Dollar, which they operated for approximately 30 years.

Gerald served on the city council for eight years.

Lefty never knew a stranger and always had a story to tell. But most of all, he loved his family and cherished the time he shared with them. He was proud of all four of his children, his grandchildren and great-grandchildren and all that they accomplished. He and Leona hosted the annual Haynes reunion for many years until this year when COVID forced the cancellation.

He and Leona loved country music and dancing the jitterbug. He also loved playing cards.

He learned to play pitch at an early age out of necessity because he and his brothers would play to see who had to do the chores. He played cribbage both socially and competitively in tournaments for many years. He and Leona played gin runny with a group monthly. And after retiring from the Silver Dollar, he had a weekly card game at the house on Wednesdays. He was the perfect host, serving them brownies or something he had baked, fresh fruit, or zucchini bread that he talked Leona into baking.

He is survived by Leona, his wife of nearly 69 years; children Clydine and husband Ed Pabst, Donny Haynes, Donna Mastriona, and Dean and wife Tina (Zimmerman) Haynes; grandchildren Brett Stevens, Cory and husband Brian Morganfield, Megan and husband Dan Marder, Sheri LePore and Adam Steinbach; great-grandchildren, Aidan, Connor and Ashlyn Morganfiled, Joey and Timmy LePore and Bryce Ciprianni; brother Delbert Haynes; sisters Helen Einspahr, Charlotte Pate, Marilyn Kirkwood, and numerous nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his parents, brothers Carroll, Wilmer, Harold, Ronald, Garry, and Larry; sisters Ruby Roberts and Vivian Howland, and several nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to the Fleming Alumni Association, Hospice of the Plains, Inc., or Area on Aging, care of Tennant Funeral Home, P.O. Box 1547, Sterling, CO 80751.

A private family service will be held Nov. 6 at 11 a.m. A live stream of the service will be viewable on Tennant Funeral Home's Facebook page.