Richard Kent Haynes

A good heart stopped on December 13, 2024. He was lovingly known as Pop, Boompah, P Bear and Daddy to family and Kent to friends. Born in Paris, Texas on April 20, 1929, Richard Kent Haynes began his journey.

Being raised by a railroad affiliated Father and loving Mother, he lived with his 3 siblings: older brother Baylor, younger brother Alfred and baby sister, Mildred Ann in Dallas, Texas. The family later owned a farm in the San Angelo area where young Kent learned about farming hay fields and running a farm. This was not a lifestyle he particularly liked but once he had children, many fond memories were made there.

Kent attended North Texas State University, in Denton, Texas but transferred to Southern Methodist University (SMU) in Dallas where he eventually earned a bachelor’s degree in Business Management. During his years at SMU he met Zoe Ann Perryman. They married in February, 1950 and moved to San Diego, where Kent was stationed in the Marine Corp. and their first son, Stephen was born.

After moving back to Texas, they were blessed with three more children: Deborah, Kevin and Julie, and moved to Richardson, before moving to the country in Denton. This country home allowed for many pets, but mostly for a lifestyle of freedom from neighbors that both Kent and Zoe enjoyed.

They both had a love of dancing, initially jitterbugging but later their children enjoyed watching them glide across the living room floor and during events such as their oldest daughter’s wedding. Both enjoyed gardening, playing bridge with friends and playing cards with family and friends of their kids. Always a free spirit, Kent particularly enjoyed his favorite hobby of nude swimming in the pool, and was rarely alone.

Kent held the job of Regional Personnel Director for Wausau Insurance Company, based in Dallas for 34 years before taking early retirement at age 62 so he and Zoe could travel abroad and move to Lakeway, in Austin. They visited Italy, France and Germany before advanced ovarian cancer took Zoe in October of 1995, after nearly 45 years of marriage. During those 45 years, they lost Kevin, age 20 in November 1978 in a military accident. But also, they celebrated Deborah’s marriage to John Bryant, who brought 3 children (grandchildren) into the family, Mauri, Nicole and Alex. More celebrations came when Stephen married and expanded the grandchild count to 6: Kevyn (born July 22 – same birthday as her heavenly Uncle Kevin), Stephanie (July 23), and Cristen (June 21).

After Zoe’s death, Kent traveled extensively, sometimes on his own but often with friends, like De Sellers, Joe Roddy or Charley Roberts. Visiting multiple countries, staying at hostels and making friends as he went.

The country that appeared to hold his heart was Greece, mostly due to kismet, from an arranged meeting with his soulmate, Martha Luan Brunson in Samos in 1999. They married in July 2001, expanding the family with John, Elizabeth ( husband Cody) and Ann. Luan had also lost a son, James, age 21 in April ’81 from an accident in Positano, Italy where he was studying to be a priest.

Over the next 24 years, though travel would be plentiful, Samos, specifically Votsalakia would be their home away from their home in Wimberley, Texas. A group of people from this lovely, small village would become dear friends.

The years following their marriage, started their spiritual journey with Kent’s love of the book The Odyssey, they followed Odysseus’ path while Luan authored a fictionally based book from Odyssues’ sister point of view (Ktimene), which was published in early 2020. This marriage for Kent, opened his world to new friends and his in-depth spiritual journeying with an awe-inspiring mate . During this time of life, new grandchildren arrived: Zoe, Carter and Elizabeth, along with countless great and great-great grandchildren.

Kent and Luan travelled almost every year, trying to experience a new country each year but always ended with precious time spent with friends in Votsalakia. Family and friends would often meet them in their journeys to be able to experience life through their eyes. When at home, they were involved in a spiritual group that opened their hearts and minds to other religions and points of views to expand an understanding of the world they traveled. Kent worked seasonally for H&R Block and was deeply involved with Hospice Care visits. Many wonderful memories were made with their travels, both within the states and abroad and was well catalogued through pictures and on Facebook.

In 2020, life for Kent converted from travel companion to caregiver to Luan who lost her battle with ovarian cancer in August. Although he continued to travel for the next 3 years and was able to return to their beloved Greece, being enveloped with love from their family of friends. Family often accompanied Kent and when shopping in this small village, it appeared almost everyone knew of Kent (and Luan) and spoke fondly. When home, he loved cooking for family, listening to opera, and spending time with dear friends.

Persistent bouts of illness finally took its toll on Friday, December 13, 2024 when he ascended spiritually to join both loves of his life, family and friends that made his life rich, meaningful, rewarding and worthwhile. Reflections of how his life impacted those who knew and loved him ranged from “he made me feel seen and loved”, “he gave of himself and was always present when he was with you, as if you were the only one who mattered”, “always reminding his extended family of how rich they made his life”, and that “he was a wonderful, compassionate father not just to “his” children, grandchildren and great (and great-great) grandchildren but to those he called his extended family”.

A Memorial Mass for Kent and Luan will be held Saturday, March 22, 2025, 11:00 a.m. at St. Marys Catholic Church, 14711 Ranch Rd. 12, Wimberly, Texas with a gathering following the service at Brunson Home, 1908 Flite Acres Rd, Wimberly.