Gerald Karl Haynie

Having lived a full and prosperous life, Gerald Karl Haynie departed this life on April 1, 2021, in Lehi, Utah.  Jerry was born on June 15, 1929 in Manassa, Colo., to Harran Hall and Mary Manning Haynie. He was the third of seven children. He had a happy childhood and grew up with a large extended family unit. He remained close with his siblings throughout his life. 

Jerry graduated from Alamosa High School and attended Adams State College where he met Oma Jean Oliver, the love of his life. They were married on Jan. 21, 1951, in Monte Vista, Colo. They were married for 67 years. 

Jerry was drafted into the Army during the Korean War. He was stationed in Baltimore, MD, Santa Barbara, Calif., and then Ft. Douglas in Salt Lake City, Utah.

After his discharge, Jerry and Oma Jean made Bountiful, Utah, their home where they welcomed three children into their lives. Their family was always their priority where love, work, honesty and high expectations were emphasized. 

Jerry was a hard worker and an excellent provider. In his youth, he worked for various family enterprises including picking peas, digging graves and in the grocery business. He always had a job doing something. In Utah, he sold tires and then he opened a shoe store.

In 1964, Jerry and Oma Jean returned to Alamosa to run Haynies Merchandise Mart which his father had started in 1946. Jerry and Oma Jean purchased the business several years later and changed the name to Haynies, Inc., Napa Auto Parts, and ran it very successfully until their retirement in 1996. Before their retirement they purchased a home “The Dome” in South Fork where they continued to make new friends. Jerry and Oma Jean loved to entertain guests and were active community members. 

Jerry had numerous talents and interests. He loved to golf and held memberships at both Alamosa Golf Course and Rio Grande Club in South Fork where he was a charter member. He loved to play cards with all the groups he associated with and especially enjoyed meeting with his friends at the Alamosa Elks Club. Jerry had a talent for candy making and was a master of making caramels, peanut brittle, and toffee. He attained a pilot’s license while in high school in Alamosa, but most of his travel was by automobile and he did love to drive.

He enjoyed vehicles very much, including the three wheelers that he rode as a Shriner in local parades. He enjoyed his association and the work he performed as a member of the Sand Dunes Shrine Club. He was an active member and held various offices with the Shriners. He had great satisfaction in being the representative to the Shriners Hospital in Salt Lake City by referring children with disabilities to receive treatment at no cost to their families. In this calling, he was a hero to many children throughout the Valley as they received life-changing treatment to overcome their disabilities.  Jerry was also a great help to the Shriners Club with their fundraisers, most noticeably, the Shrine Circus which comes every year to the Ski Hi Stampede grounds. Jerry was a longtime Adams State Booster Club supporter. Jerry and Oma Jean loved to travel with friends from their associations in NAPA and Shriners.

Jerry was preceded in death by his loving wife, Oma Jean, parents Harran and Mary, and siblings Carol Tate, Louis Haynie, Richard Haynie, Marie Haynie, and Jon Haynie

Jerry is survived by his children: Terry (Sharon) Haynie-Del Norte, Colo., Tammy (Gary) Cooper-Lehi, Utah, Sam (Blair) Haynie-Alamosa, Colo., six grandchildren, Ryan (Tammy) Haynie-Del Norte, Colo., Tiffany (Austin) Neilson-North Ogden, Utah, Devin (Angela) Haynie-Alamosa, Colo., Blake (Erin) Haynie-Syracuse, Ind., Ashley (Kevin) Sorensen-Spanish Fork, Utah, Tyler Haynie-Alamosa, Colo., 15 great-grandchildren, sister: Adele Gilchrist-Bothell, Wash., sisters-in-law: Martha Oliver, Alamosa, Colo., Gae Haynie and Rolaine Haynie-Salt Lake City, Utah.

The family would like to thank Bellaview Assisted Living Center in Lehi, Utah, for the loving care given to Jerry during the last few months of his life as well as Tom Faris, Lee Cerrone, and Teddy Garcia for always lending a helping hand to Jerry after Oma Jean passed away.

To respect Jerry’s wishes no services will be held. A celebration in his honor will be held this summer with details forthcoming.