Ernest "Cowboy" William Haines

Ernest “Cowboy” William Haines, age 86 of Fairfield, passed away Friday, November 13, 2015 at Van Buren County Hospital.

Visitation for family and friends will be 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm, Tuesday, November 17, 2015 at Behner Funeral Home.

Funeral Services will be 10:30 am, Wednesday, November 18, 2015 at Behner Funeral Home with Pastor Earl Swigart officiating. Burial will be at Lockridge Cemetery, Lockridge, IA with military rites.

Memorials can be made to HCI Hospice, Lockridge Cemetery or VFW. Cards and memorials can be mailed to: Bill Haines, 2118 227th Street, Fairfield, Iowa 52556.

Ernest was born May 17, 1929 to Archie William and Pansy Ernestine (Rudd) Haines in Mt. Pleasant, IA. He married Mabel Elna Moyers October 9, 1955 in Burlington, Iowa at Bethany Lutheran Church. They celebrated 58 years of marriage before she passed away May 26, 2014.

Ernest served in the Army for 3 years during the post-World War II and Korean War over in Germany. He worked 38 years on the DOT crew for Jefferson County and also farmed.

Ernest was a member of the VFW, Eagles and Moose Lodge of Mt. Pleasant. He enjoyed going to and participating in Old Threshers, tractors, horses and horse pulls, playing cards and dancing. Ernest enjoyed going to his kids and grandkids activities. Ernest never knew a stranger. He liked talking to everybody and was everybody’s friend.

Ernest is survived by his 5 children, Elna Haines of Bloomfield, IA, William (Bettye) Haines of Fairfield, IA, Janet (Chuck) Sutter of Mt Pleasant, IA, Leo Haines of Fairfield, IA, son–in–law, Jerry Harvey of West Point, IA and Ron (Heidi) Haines of Fairfield, IA; 10 grandchildren, Travis Harvey, Ashley Harvey, Leah Harvey, Brandon (Sarah) Haines, Brock Haines, Kiley Haines, Aaron Haines, Evan Haines, Jessica Hines, and Melissa McCants; 5 great grandchildren, Camden, Tallen, Kelsie, Molly and Maci; two sisters, May (Bill) Watson, and Lola Douglas of Lockridge, IA; and one sister-in-law, Betty Long of Burlington, IA.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Archie and Pansy Haines; his wife, Mabel Haines; one daughter, Karla Harvey; one brother, Eddie Haines; and one sister, Violetta Haines.