Thomas "Jerry" Haines was born December 2, 1938 in Glasscock County, Texas to Joe and Margret Turner Haines. At age 2 they returned to Kimble County and he grew up on the home place on Little Saline Creek at London, Texas. He had a great love for sports, especially baseball. Jerry also played football, basketball and tennis. If there was a game to be played he was all for it. Sports of course were played in the evening after school and helping his family with the farming and ranching.

While still in school, Jerry worked for several years in London for the Jack Dayton Gas Company. After graduation he moved to Cortez, Colorado where his oldest brother lived. It was here that he met Phyllis Perrott and they were married on February 6, 1958. They later moved back to Texas and lived in Crane for a year. It was in Crane that their daughter Linda Sue was born. Jerry's love of ranching brought them back to Kimble County where he did ranch work for Dan Lehmberg for 4 years. During this time their son Tommy was born. He worked on other ranches for several years before moving back to Crane and working for Getty Oil Company. Once again, Jerry's love of ranching brought them back to Mason County where he ran the Mill Creek Ranch for Walker White for 3 years. He then worked as cowboy at the Feed Lot for Marvin McMillan until 1977 when Jerry and Phyllis purchased NuWay Grocery.

The next 30 years were some of the happiest as he had his friends in early drinking coffee and later going to the ranch to care for the Brangus Cattle he loved. He was happiest in the store when he could spoil a little one with a piece of bubble gum or candy.

Jerry is survived by his wife Phyllis, of Mason and Ballinger, daughter Linda Taliaferro and husband Keith of Ballinger, a son Tommy Haines of Ballinger, five grandchildren : Jerri Anne Holman, Bobbie Edwards and husband Kerry, Wesley Haines and wife Lori, Tyler Haines and wife Kim and Cody Haines, 10 great-grandchildren: Ryan, Natalie, Katie, Mariska, Hunter, Hadyn, Hutch, Huxton, Avery and Evan, two brothers: J. W. Haines of Mason and Addis Haines and wife Ruth of Bertram. He is also survived by several nieces and nephews including Larry Haines and special friends James and Sharon Lindemann and family and James and Becky Norris and family.

Visitation with the family will be Friday evening from 5 to 7 p.m. at Mason Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, September 6, at 10:00 a.m. in the Mason Funeral Home Chapel. Interment will follow in the Gooch Cemetery.