Christopher Lindsey Hayne, Jr. of Foley, Alabama, passed away at his home on Wolf Bay on Friday, July 15, 2022. He was 90 years of age. Mr. Hayne was born in Natchitoches, Louisiana, on May 18, 1932, and moved to Alexandria, Louisiana, just before World War II.
Mr. Hayne was preceded in death by his parents, Christopher Lindsey Hayne and Kathleen Dunnam Hayne, and by his sister and brother, Kathleen Hayne Foltz and William Phillip Hayne, as well as sons-in-law Camille B. Graugnard and John R. Peters, Jr. He is survived by his devoted wife of nearly 72 years, Patricia Halliburton Hayne, his children George Ann Hayne Peters, Patricia Hayne Rainey and Christopher Lindsey Hayne III. He is also survived by his four grandchildren, Jack Graugnard (Erin), Lindsey G. Schafer (Allen), Hayne Rainey (Meg) and Will Rainey; as well as seven great grandchildren (Garrett Rainey; Jack and Hayne Schafer; and Mike, William, Jane Louise and Marcus Graugnard) as well as many cousins, nieces and nephews.
During World War II, Mr. Hayne was eager to serve like his friends and enlisted in the U.S. Navy Reserve; earning the rank of apprentice seaman. After proudly serving nineteen days, he was honorably discharged once it was discovered that he was just fifteen years old. He attended Louisiana State University at Baton Rouge and he was proud to root for the Tigers all his life. Mr. Hayne married his high school sweetheart Patricia on September 2, 1950, when they were still teenagers and honeymooned in the middle of Hurricane Easy.
As a young adult, he was involved in his family’s cotton business, Independent Mill and Gin, becoming a certified cotton classer at just nineteen. In addition to farming, he was an avid young pilot, taking his passion from crop dusting to becoming the fixed base operator at Esler Field, Alexandria, Louisiana, where he and his wife operated Air Charter Inc., an airplane charter service, aircraft maintenance and Cessna airplane dealership. As an early commercial aviator in Louisiana, his professionalism and success were highly valued.
After selling Air Charter, he was recruited to work in aviation management for the U.S. Forest Service. Later stationed in Boise, Idaho, Mr. Hayne supported the Intermountain Region Four Smokejumpers; where among his many responsibilities, he managed and maintained aircraft for aerial fire detection and flew missions deploying smokejumpers safely to fight wildland fires. In all his years of professional service, he was proud to have never been involved in an accident. He officially retired in 1979.
Mr. Hayne filled his retirement years enjoying his many airplanes and boats until shortly before his final illness. He loved to travel at his own pace, including a number of times sailing or cruising from the Alabama Gulf Coast where he settled last to the Bahamas; sometimes navigating the weeks-long voyage by himself. But flying was always his lifelong passion which he enjoyed into his 80’s. And there was no engine he could not analyze and repair and he took great pleasure over the years helping friends with their airplane and boat engines, a hobby that he enjoyed as much as his friends benefitted.
In recognition of all his knowledge and professional achievements, he was awarded both the Wright Brothers “Master Pilot” Award and the Charles Taylor “Master Mechanic” Award by the Federal Aviation Administration in 2010. He earned the status of a Master Boat Captain by the U.S. Coast Guard in 1991. In his later years, he was an active member of the Experimental Aircraft Association Chapter 1265 - Magnolia Springs, Alabama, and the Ancient Aviators of South Alabama where he loved to share stories and connect with fellow pilots. And his brief military service as a patriotic teenager allowed him to join the American Legion Post 99 - Foley, Alabama, in 2018.
With his devoted wife Patricia by his side, together they lived a wonderful life. Known as “Papa” to his family, his children will never forget growing up in the back of a Beechcraft Bonanza airplane as he flew them across the country. And his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren will never forget his kindness and spirit, and the seemingly unbelievable stories he would tell of his many adventures. He was dearly loved by all and will be deeply missed.
Mass of Chrsitian Burial was held at St. Margaret of Scotland Catholic Church, 601 W. Laurel Ave., Foley, Alabama 36535 on Tuesday, July 26, 2022 at 10:30 a.m. The family received friends at the church beginning at 9:30 a.m. until the time of the mass. Interment will follow in St. Margaret of Scotland Catholic Church Cemetery, Foley, Alabama.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society or St. Margaret of Scotland Catholic Church, Foley, Alabama.
Arrangements entrusted to Cason Funeral Service in Foley, Alabama.
