Donald Keith Haynes, M.D. born 29 August 1933 to Milo Jesless and Gladys Trichel Haynes in Lisbon, La., and known affectionately to the people of Claiborne Parish as Dr. D.K., passed away peacefully surrounded by his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren at a place that he dearly loved and spent many moments of his extraordinary life, Claiborne Memorial Medical Center.
He is preceded in death by his parents M.J. and Gladys and three brothers, Dr. Lavelle Haynes, Dr. Glen Haynes, and Joe Haynes and his ever-constant and loving wife of 56 years, Carolyn Kimbell Haynes. He is survived by his five children: Dr. Mark Haynes (Tracey) of Homer, Keitha Gardiner, (Dr. Lonnie) of Alpharetta, Ga., Lisa Thompson (Noble) of Benton, Dr. John Haynes (Dr. Monica) of Shreveport, and Dr. Scott Haynes (Dr. Maria) of Homer, sixteen grandchildren – Amanda Robichaux (Nick) of Baton Rouge, David Haynes (Mary-Frances) of Shreveport, Laurie Lanham (Shane) of Alpharetta, Ga., Brooke Gardiner of Alpharetta, Ga., Kevin Gardiner (Kelsey) of Atlanta, Ga., Trey Thompson (Christina) of Benton, Matthew Thompson (Kimberly) of Benton, Taylor Haskell (Ryan) of Benton, Francie Haynes of Nashville, Tn., Caroline Haynes, Patrick Haynes, and Nicholas Haynes of Shreveport, Emily LaBiche (Drew) of Houston, Madelyn Haynes of Baton Rouge, William Haynes, and John Henry Haynes of Homer, and thirteen great-grandchildren – Vivienne and Miller Robichaux of Baton Rouge, Henry and Wyatt Haynes of Shreveport, Avery Claire, Evangeline, Caroline and Haynes Lanham of Alpharetta, Ga., Elet Robinson of Alpharetta, Ga., Dawson and Riley Thompson of Benton , Olivia Thompson of Benton, and Daisy Haskell of Benton, his dear friend, Cherry Lynn Sanders, and his beloved cat, Joe Burreaux.
Dr. D.K was born a child of The Great Depression at his parent’s home in Lisbon, where he met the love of his life, Carolyn, when they were children. He graduated from Lisbon High School, completed studies at Louisiana Tech in just three years and was admitted to LSU Medical School New Orleans in 1954. He graduated from LSU Medical School in 1958 and interned at Confederate Memorial Hospital in Shreveport. After completing his internship, he took a residency in General Medicine in Lafayette, La. He completed his residency and began his nearly 60-year career in private practice in Homer, joining Drs. James and Pat Gladney and Dr. E. A. Campbell at the newly named Campbell-Gladney-Haynes clinic. He was a charter diplomate of the American Board of Family Medicine from its inception in 1970 and was a long-time officer of the Louisiana Chapter of the American Academy of Family Physicians. He was honored as the Louisiana Family Practice Doctor of the year in 1984. He was joined by his oldest son, Dr. Mark, in 1987 and his youngest son, Dr. Scott in 2000 in what would become The Claiborne Family Medical Clinic. Undoubtedly one of his greatest joys in life was to have the opportunity to share in the practice of medicine with his children. Grandaddy was immensely proud of all his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren and he was warm and loving with them.
Dr. D.K. loved the practice of medicine, the intellectual challenges that it afforded him, and the chance to serve God and his community in a very humble and diligent fashion. He was a mentor to countless blooming physicians practicing all over Northwest Louisiana and beyond through his nearly 40 years of service as a clinical instructor in the Comprehensive Care Clinic at the LSU School of Medicine in Shreveport where he was one of the most loved preceptors. He was truly an old time Doctor, delivering countless babies that would be contemporaries and friends of his children, performing surgeries major and minor, taking care of everything from acute appendicitis to regular old colds (and even removing the occasional angel food cake pan from around a child’s head or retrieving items stuck up the noses of children (perhaps both of whom were his own). Daddy was a life-long fan of the St. Louis Cardinals and (especially Stan Musial and Yadier Molina). He also loved his LSU Tigers and never missed a chance to watch their games on TV.
He had a playful sense of humor and love to tease in a warm and loving way and, always quick with a smile and generous and humble to a fault. Dr. D.K. was a faithful member at First Baptist Church of Homer and continued to go every Sunday as long as he was still healthy. He was a quiet and steadfast man of God who demonstrated his unwavering faith in the best way – by serving others and by showing kindness and compassion every day. He was a quietly extraordinary man, yet still possessed of a grounded sense of humility and a distinctly calm demeanor no matter the circumstances. He will be greatly missed and his memory will be cherished by many.
The family would like to express a special thanks to Lisa Ford and the sincere care she provided for both Mom and Dad. We would also like to thank Dr. Cliff Salmon and the staff and nurses of the ICU, and each and every staff member of Claiborne Memorial Medical Center.
Also enduring thanks to his Claiborne Family Medical Clinic family. They embody the definition of a family. We will always be grateful for your love of our Dad.
Services will be at First Baptist Church of Homer with the family receiving visitors at 9:00 AM at the church and services to follow at 10:00 AM. Pallbearers are David Haynes, Nick Robichaux, Kevin Gardiner, Shane Lanham, Trey Thompson, Matthew Thompson, Patrick Haynes, Nicholas Haynes, William Haynes and John Henry Haynes. Honorary pallbearers are Ryan Haskell, Wiley Stidham, Drew LaBiche and Will Mathews
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials to Claiborne Academy, Claiborne Memorial Medical Center Foundation, LSU Health Sciences Foundation Shreveport, Rocky Springs Baptist Church and First Baptist Church of Homer.
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