Roy J. Haynes

Roy J. Haynes, at the age of 97 and a half years old, passed from this life on August 19, 2026, to be with his Lord and to join his family, and friends who had gone on before him.

Roy was born on February 20, 1929, in Kansas City, Missouri to Roy Thomas Haynes and Carrie Marie Shaw Haynes. His siblings included an older brother Edward Eugene Haynes, and younger sister, Melba Ladine Haynes Bourland, each of which preceded him in passing.

He was a 1947 graduate of Kansas City Junior College with an Associate of Science degree and graduated from Kansas University in 1953 with a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering degree.

In June 1949, Roy noticed Pearl Messick at a camp meeting at Herriman Chapel in Cedar County in southern Missouri and asked a friend who she was.  Roy and Pearl dated most every weekend when he could make the drive south.  They corresponded over the next two years, until they married the day after she graduated from high school in May 1951.

Following graduation from KU, Roy began working for Westinghouse Electric as a Group Leader in Industrial Engineering. Just one month later, he received a Korean Wartime draft notice into the US Marine Corps and soon headed to Camp Pendelton in San Diego, CA for boot camp.  Pearl joined him for his first assignment at El Toro Marine Air Station, CA where he worked as a mechanic.  He graduated from the US Navy Preparatory School in Jacksonville, FL as the top marine before attending the US Navy Aviation Electronics School in Millington, TN.  In 1953, Roy was promoted to Corporal, then graduated from the US Navy Electronics School, again as the top Marine.  His next assignment was back in El Toro, CA where he worked on “radio radar” for the McDonnell F3H Banshee Jet fighter bombers and where his son, Darrell was born.

Roy was honorably discharged from the US Marines in March 1954 and returned to work at Westinghouse Electric in Kansas City. During this time, daughter Dian arrived to complete their family of four. While working full time, Roy also worked with his uncle to build their first home.  In 1960, he joined Trans World Airlines as an industrial engineer and was promoted the following year to Manager of Methods and Standards.  Roy had been attending night school and graduated in 1961 with a Master of Business Administration and Economics degree from the University of Missouri at Kansas City.

In his free time during this period, Roy liked to go fishing as often as possible.  He also served as an assistant scoutmaster for son Darrell’s Boy Scout troop.

In 1969, Roy and his family moved to Wichita, KS when he accepted a position with Learjet as Manager of Industrial Engineering.  Other industrial engineering management positions in his career included Safeway Stores, Cudahy Packing Company, and Steffen’s Dairy.  His final employer was Cessna Aircraft Company where he retired in 1996 after 20 years of service, having spent most of that time as a Plant Maintenance Supervisor after becoming a Certified Plant Engineer.

In 1977, Roy and Pearl began owning and leasing single family homes and duplexes as a side business.  During his retirement years, Roy grew over 300 varieties of daylilies and won several prizes for his flowers.  In 2019, he was chosen to participate in an Honor Flight to Washington DC as a Korean era Marine.

Roy and Pearl’s marriage lasted for 68 years until her passing in 2019 when he was 90 years old.  For the remainder of his life, he professed his love for her and talked about how he missed her. Roy’s health began to wane in his nineties, but he still had an extraordinarily strong will to live.  Having outlived most of his friends and family, Roy delighted in sending birthday cards and gift cards to many of his nieces and nephews, their children, and grandchildren.  He loved to hear from them and cherished every kind card they sent in return.

Despite his later blindness and near deafness, Roy continued to live alone at his home until he turned 97 years old, thanks to home health care providers who visited several days per week, but mostly due to his son Darrell’s deeply committed caregiving and attention to supporting every detail of Roy’s life.

Roy was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Pearl Messick Haynes, as well as other family members. He is survived by son, Darrell Haynes and wife Tammy of Wichita, KS; daughter, Dian LeBlanc and husband Andrew of Keller, TX; granddaughter, Holly Haynes of Normal, IL; and step-grandson Christopher LeBlanc of Austin, TX.  He is also survived by eight nieces and six nephews, along with their children and grandchildren who held a special place in his heart.

Roy will be missed by his family and friends who remain here, but with his lifelong profession of salvation and Christian faith, we are confident this is just separation for a time until we who are believers are together again.

Visitation will be Sunday, August 23^rd from 4:00 to 6:00 PM, with a funeral service also at Downing & Lahey West Mortuary on Monday, August 24, 2026, at 10:00 AM. Burial follows at Wichita Greenwood Cemetery.