VICTORIA — Rayburn Alan Haynie, age 77, passed away on January 29, 2023 at his home in Victoria, Texas, with his wife, Alene, by his side. He was born on July 5, 1945 to Joseph Daniel Haynie and Iva Mae Cunningham Haynie in Victoria, Texas. He married Alene Frels Haynie on July 5, 1975 and they made their home in Seadrift, Texas. The couple had one son, Craig Alan Haynie, who proceeded his father in death on November 26, 2018. Rayburn is also proceeded in death by his parents, his brother, Joseph Daniel Haynie, his brother-in-law, Dean Spells, and his niece, Holly Spells.

In addition to his wife, Rayburn is survived by his sister, Sandra Haynie Spells of Aransas Pass, Texas.

Rayburn was a graduate of Calhoun High School, class of 1963, and attended Victoria College. Rayburn loved the water and enjoyed duck hunting, fishing, shrimping, and water-skiing in his younger years. Later, he owned and operated Haynie’s Seafood, as well as building steel hull shrimp boats, gulf shrimp boats, and oyster boats. In the early 1980’s Rayburn began the large-scale production of Haynie’s Fishing Boats, a shallow draft fishing boat design. The boats were designed, manufactured and sold in Seadrift. In recent years, he sold the business and retired. The various models of Haynie Boats are still very popular. Rayburn also served on the Seadrift City Council for many terms and was Mayor of Seadrift during the 1979 difficult time in Seadrift’s history. Rayburn was an active member of First United Methodist Church in Seadrift and served in various offices on the Church Council. Rayburn and Alene later transferred their membership to First United Methodist Church in downtown Victoria.

Many friends in Seadrift have funny stories and happy memories of their friend “Haynie” and taking trips to the Island, to the rice canals, or to the back bays for camping, fishing and hunting adventures. He will be dearly missed and, no doubt, leaves many tales for repeating by his breakfast-table buddies and his afternoon coffee round-table friends.

In accordance with his wishes, Rayburn will be cremated and there will be no funeral service or visitation. His cremains will be interred in the Seadrift Cemetery in a private graveside service.

For those wishing to do so, memorials may be given in his memory to the Seadrift Cemetery Association, P. O. Box 181, Seadrift, Texas 77983. Share memories and condolences with the family at www.colonialfuneralhomevictoria.com

Perhaps you remember the thrill of getting a pair of new shoes. It was the happiest of days, especially if your old pair looked old and worn. People who work with Sole Mission get to see that joy on the faces of so many children who get a new pair of shoes.

On February 4th Seadrift’s First Assembly of God church hosted Sole Mission to provide area children with a new pair of shoes. This was the third time in a row that the church has invited Sole Mission. The family coming the farthest to get some shoes was from Victoria.

Sole Mission’s founders are Kelly and Alisa Ward. They work under the auspices of the U.S. Missions Department of the Assemblies of God.

Pictured are Gabriel and Anabel Longoria. They were one of many children who came to get a pair of shoes. Sixty-five pairs were given away with the help of eighteen volunteers.

Included with each pair of shoes was a new pair of socks. Thanks to an organization with a heart to help as well.

Beverly Smith, associate pastor of the church, commented on the event by saying, “We just love to see all the joy on children’s faces when they receive a new pair of shoes. We appreciate Sole Mission for providing this vital ministry all over the U.S.”

On February 8th Seadrift city employees were honored with a luncheon and framed pictures of the Seadrift area taken by City Councilman Kenneth Reese. Pictured are some, but not all, of the city’s employees. Mayor Elmer DeForest briefed the group at the luncheon about city projects and there was some Q & A.
-Tanya DeForest

What a wonderful Sweetheart Banquet we had this year! We had a great crowd, beautiful decorations, superb entertainment, delicious food and so much fun. It takes so many volunteers each year to prepare everything, but it is all worth it when we see the smiles and happy faces. This year Gary Rigomonti was gracious enough to cook our tender and flavorful pulled pork and sausage. The side dishes and desserts were prepared by FBC’s wonderful cooks and volunteers from the POC Community Service Club. What a blessing all these wonderful people are. A “Thank You” is not enough to say, but God’s blessings on everyone for the hours spent on this project. We don’t try to make a profit from our banquet, but it is a way to bring the community together. This year we also delivered about 20 meals to shut ins and ill in POC. Mark your calendars for the Thursday before Valentines Day, 2024, don’t want to miss next year’s banquet. We’ll be looking for you!

We have Team Kids and Youth activities every Wednesday from 5:30 p.m. until 7:00 pm. Dinner is served to all; they have Bible study, crafts and other activities each night. This year many of our youth served as waiters and waitresses for our banquet. What a wonderful job they did! We had so many compliments about them. God bless everyone of them
Every Tuesday we have Bible study for women at 4:00 and men at 8;00. These are held in our Fellowship Hall next to the church. Anyone is welcome to join us.

We have our ongoing ministries that we’re support all year long. The Community Food Bank for the people of POC. Hard times come to us all. You can donate to this project by bringing non perishable food items or money to FBC or Fisherman’s Chapel. We also collect items all year for the Samaritan’s Purse Shoe Boxes. Any small toy, washcloths, bar soap, T-shirts, hair bows, school supplies, etc., can be used to fill the boxes to be sent around the world. Both of these projects are important as outreach tools. Please consider supporting one of them.

We are waiting to welcome you to any of our services or activities. Come join us whenever you can. We have Sunday school and church at 10:00 and 11:00 on Sunday morning. Tuesday is Bible study and Wednesday is Team kids and Youth activities . Our doors are open and the lights are on.

Call for information or to arrange for our bus to pick up children. (361)983-2727.

I am entering my 29th year in Port O’Connor. Having been invited to help start a church by six people, two of which moved before I arrived, I came on the second Sunday of February, and our Editor Joyce Rhyne, is our only member who has been here for most services. She surely should receive “The Endurance Prize”!

Saying “Good Bye” has never been easy for me, especially when it is a very dear friend and part of our Church Family. We loved John Scott and truly miss him at the Chapel! My last phone conversation with him was on January 24, and my last text message was telling me he would have to work on Sunday, January 29. It came in at 8:29 Saturday evening. I told him we would miss him and loved him, not knowing that in less than 12 hours we would receive the news of his tragic death! We were honored to have a memorial service for John on February 8, and there were many of his coworkers and friends, as well as his Chapel Family in attendance. Our prayers remain with his family as they learn to move forward without John, especially his beloved Susie Onishi and her mother Grace.

Our community has also had the great loss of Hunter Hadley. Although I do not remember meeting Hunter, his mother Kristen and grandmother Vicky were once active parts of the Chapel family. Our prayers continue for his family and for McCoy Wagner’s complete recovery. We need to be aware of the many others who are also hurting as a result of this tragedy – those who helped recover McCoy, those who helped search, and especially those who recovered Hunter.

One thing we must learn again and again is that life is so uncertain! Tragedies strike without warning and when we are totally unprepared. Please stop reading this article right now and call or talk to someone you care about and take the opportunity to express your love – we never know when it will be for the last time.

Last month, Pastor Joane and I preached a revival in  Victoria at Friendship Church. It was an exciting time seeing the Lord move upon hearts and witness them beginning to make changes that will better their relationships with each other! As I write this, we are involved in another revival with many additional congregations and are seeing the same things! God is wanting us to move up closer to Himself and those who are doing so are finding greater and peace and blessings they never knew existed! Pastor Joane is leading other Ladies Retreat in Houston, and I will be preaching a Men’s Retreat in Sweeney before month’s end.

“Love is in the air” so I have heard, so the Chapel noted this Christian attribute with a Valentine’s party. Although we were in competition with the Super Bowl we had a good turn-out and a great time.

Fisherman’s Chapel is an interdenominational congregation whose goal is to help people love the Lord with all their hearts and to love each other! Our Sunday service schedule is Bible Study at 10:00 a.m., followed by Morning Service at 11:00. Sunday evenings, we meet at 6:00 p.m. On Wednesdays, we meet at 7:00 for dinner, followed with ministry of the Word. Everyone is welcomed and all will receive a warm greeting. All are urged to, “Come, grow with us!”