Elnora Haynes, 87, of Pampa, went on to her heavenly home on November 17, 2023, in Amarillo, Texas.
Services were held 10:00 AM, Monday, November 20, 2023, at the Carmichael-Whatley Colonial Chapel with Pastor Jamison Hancock of Briarwood Church, officiating. A burial followed at Memory Gardens under the direction of Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors and Crematory.
Elnora’s service can be viewed at the Carmichael-Whatley YouTube page.
Elnora was born September 21, 1936, to Minnie Pauline and Newland Norris Black in Velma, Oklahoma. She was baptized at age 14 in Duncan, OK, and married Chubby Dale Haynes in Pampa on January 26, 1956. The couple celebrated 50 years of marriage before Dale passed away in December of 2006.
Retiring in 1986, Elnora worked as a telephone operator for Southwestern Bell, in the data processing department for the Cabot Corporation, and served as the computer room manager for the City of Pampa.
In her later years after retirement, Elnora scheduled all of her appointments around her “work” – which included volunteering at the Pampa Senior Citizens Center, Good Sams, and the Pampa Regional Hospital.
Elnora faithfully attended Briarwood Church, and loved working puzzles, sewing, traveling, playing cards with her friends, and even tending her own yard up until a year ago. She loved playing golf, and twice scored a certified “hole in one”.
The family was not surprised to find all of Elnora’s final plans laid out and perfectly detailed (including this obituary) in the event of her passing. But she had never shared a poem she’d written to Dale, who passed away on Christmas evening in 2006. It ends like this:
“I miss the bond between us / and I miss your kind support,
You’re in my mind and in my heart / and every Christmas thought.
I’ll always feel you close to me /and though you’re far from sight,
I’ll look for you among the stars / that shine on Christmas night.
Elnora was also preceded in death by her parents, her brother Grover Black, and great-granddaughter Berkleigh Bruce.
Her memory is cherished by her children, Teresa Bruce and husband Wayne of Pampa, and Curtis Haynes of Kerrville; grandchildren, Tammy May and husband Byron of Pampa, Wade Bruce and wife Season of Georgetown, Chrissy Crenwelge and husband Jason of San Antonio, Lyndsy Morgan of Pampa; sister, Charlotte Schiffman and husband Carl of Mansfield; brother, Terry and wife Debbie of Carthage; and great-grandchildren, Taylor Davis and husband Jack, Garrett Haynes, Westin Bruce, Emma Bruce, Flannery May, Aspen Bruce, Mckenna Morgan, Slade Miranda and Elyana Miranda.
Memorials can be sent to Briarwood Church, 1800 W. Harvester, Pampa, Texas 79065, or Pampa Senior Citizens, 500 W. Francis Avenue, Pampa, Texas.
