Keith Haynes

Keith E. Haynes, 83, of Jackson passed away Saturday, June 7, 2014, at the Missouri Veterans Home in Cape Girardeau.

He was born Sept. 22, 1930, in Lowndes, Missouri, to Ulysis and Maude Shetley Haynes. The family moved to East Alton, Illinois, where Keith attended school, and later they moved to Marble Hill, Missouri, where he owned and operated a service station.

Keith married his high school sweetheart, Bernice Bollinger, on Jan. 26, 1952, in Marble Hill. Upon being drafted into the U.S. Army, he sold his service station. PFC Haynes honorably served during the Korean War, from March 18, 1952, to Feb. 20, 1954. When he returned home, he went into the construction business as a heavy-equipment operator, digging many basements in the Jackson-Cape Girardeau area. He retired in 1992.

Keith attended First Baptist Church in Jackson. He was a lifetime member of Altenthal-Joerns American Legion Post 158 and VFW Post 10495, both in Jackson. He and Bernice were members of the Good Sam Camping Club and they were charter members of the former Hill Toppers Square Dance Club.

Loving survivors include his wife of 62 years, Bernice of Jackson; two children, Connie Clippard of Maryland Heights, Missouri, and Michael (Linda) Haynes of Ste. Genevieve, Missouri; five grandchildren, Sarah Bradford of the Netherlands, David Bradford of Maryland Heights, Melissa Bradford of Kirksville, Missouri, Michael Haynes Jr. and Lauren Haynes, both of Ste. Genevieve; two sisters, Wanda Durham of Elsberry, Missouri, and Betty (David) Demelle of Troy, Missouri; a sister-in-law, Bonnie Haynes of Anna, Illinois; a brother-in-law, James (Peggy) Bollinger of Springfield, Tennessee; and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; four brothers, Glenn, Gene, Donald and Jerry Haynes; three sisters, Fern Manns, Mary Falica and Joyce Fox; and a young sister, Bernice Haynes.

The Haynes family is grateful to the wonderful nurses and staff of the Missouri Veterans Home and Southeast Hospice for their care and compassion through the past several months.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. today at the chapel of McCombs Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Jackson. There will be an American Legion service at 7 p.m.

The funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at the funeral home, with the Rev. Michael George officiating. Burial will be in Russell Heights Cemetery in Jackson with full military honors.

Memorials may take the form of contributions to the Missouri Veterans Home Foundation or First Baptist Church in Jackson.