James Alan Haynes

James Alan Haynes was born on October 23, 1939, and was preceded in death by his parents the late J. Sidney Haynes and Edith Haynes, his brother Noble Sidney Haynes and his sister Meredith Haynes. He is survived by a loving family including his wife Sandra Haynes, married on June 2, 1984, daughters Kim, Sherrie and husband Bill, and grandkids: Blake and wife Cassidy, Haley, Chacey, Josh and wife Haley, Breanna and husband Cody, and great grandkids Bruin, Cannon, Briar & Gatlin. Mr. Haynes graduated from Tyler High School, Tyler Junior College, and later earned a BBA degree from the University of Texas in Austin. He also earned a Master of Business Administration degree from Texas A&M Commerce Texas. He was a member of Delta Upsilon Fraternity and enjoyed the life time friends he made. Mr. Haynes was a member of Green Acres Baptist Church. Mr. Haynes taught at Tyler Junior College before opening The Sportster in 1973, a retail sporting goods store. The Sportster, Inc. was awarded in 1978 the “SPINKS” Leadership Award by the National Association of Sporting Goods Dealers as the outstanding independent retail sporting goods store in the nation. He worked ardently for Texas sportsmen and served on a number of Texas Parks and Wildlife Department boards and other conservation organizations. He was a true sportsman known as an avid hunter, fisherman, and canoeist. He traveled worldwide hunting and fishing. He helped establish the “Sabine Bottom Texas Parks and Wildlife Management Area”,” The Mineola Nature Preserve” on the Sabine River, and was a past chairman of the board of trustees for The Texas Kid Fish program, The ShareLunker Foundation, as well as the Texas Parks and Wildlife Inland Fisheries Advisory Board. On May 4, 2019 he was inducted into THE TEXAS FRESHWATER FISHING HALL OF FAME. His greatest joy was helping kids, especially his grandkids, with hunter education and fishing. He worked to help pass the first Texas Hunter Safety Law in Texas and taught numerous students hunter safety. He actively worked to support conservation, fish and wildlife issues, helping pass the first legislation for a Spring Turkey Season in Texas and served as a director for the National Wild Turkey Federation. He was a longtime member of the East Texas Woods and Waters Foundation and multiple other conservation organizations. Serving as Honorary pallbearers: Josh Culpepper, Blake Branch, Bill McCaa, Clint McCaa, Francis Kay, Bill Sheehy, Benny Swan, Gary Traylor, Allen Hill, Barry Snell, Glenn Ab Walters, Bill Naleid, Gary Sapp, Dr. Tom Gregory, and Dennis Darryl. Memorial services will be held on Wednesday, June 26, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. at Stewart Family Funeral Home. Memorials in honor of Alan Haynes may be made to The Hospice of East Texas, 4111 University Blvd., Tyler, TX 75701 or St. Paul Children’s Foundation 1358 E. Richards, Tyler, 75702 or the East Texas Woods and Waters Foundation, 1001 ESE Loop 323, Suite 300, Tyler, TX 75701

James Alan Haynes

October 23, 1939 - June 22, 2024