Mr. Shawn Maurice Haynes

      Mr. Shawn Maurice Haynes was a man for whom actions would speak louder than words. His life motto might well have been “if it isn’t logical, it’s not important.” The qualities of being fair, just and the ability to recognize what was right were clearly driving forces in Shawn’s life. He was also the kind of person who could respect a “do not disturb” sign, whether it was real or implied. He was analytical and observant, with an ability to be simultaneously spontaneous and keenly perceptive. Shawn was modest in his actions and extremely literal in his thoughts and in the manner in which he communicated with others. When Shawn said something, he meant it. All those who knew him appreciated this trademark quality.

      Shawn was born on February 28, 1971 at Brookside Hospital in San Pablo, CA . He was raised in Richmond, CA. Even as a small child, Shawn wanted to understand what was right and what was wrong in any given situation. As Shawn grew older, he realized the importance of being treated fairly, and in return, he treated everyone around him the same way. This belief in fair play served Shawn well throughout his life and despite his natural shyness; he enjoyed a solid group of friends.

      Since Shawn sought to treat those around him with respect, he often found himself in the role of playing peacemaker within his family. He was comfortable in working through the types of sibling rivalry situations that quite often occur, because he loved the challenge of conflict resolution. He would look at the most reasonable and practical ways to settle any disputes. He had one brother named Lester. They were constantly involved in activities with each other resulting in the typical rivalries while growing up, while they shared many life experiences.

      During his childhood, family and friends viewed Shawn as a quiet and reserved person with what most would consider a calm and tranquil demeanor. In fact, he was a fairly curious child who had the ability to entertain himself and didn’t require much in the way of outside stimulation. A great deal of Shawn’s free time was spent learning how and why the things around him worked. He was an active child who loved being outdoors and absorbing all the sensory input that nature could provide. He took part in baseball and football. He was a boys club. In his spare time, he liked comic books, Atari video and Nintendo video games.

      The fact that he was curious was an asset to Shawn while he was in school. He possessed strong study skills and good concentration. He relished the task of scrutinizing problems, investigating all of the options and then solving them. Shawn enjoyed tackling the project that was right in front of him and working it straight through to its conclusion.

      Those who didn’t know Shawn well might have thought him to be objective and somewhat emotionally detached, but family and friends who were close to him knew that he was capable of unexpected flashes of humor. Even though the circle of friends was somewhat small, it was a strong and loyal group, and Shawn liked nothing better than to spend his free time with them. Shawn was well known for always being up front and open, never hiding his true feelings, qualities that drew deep loyalty from his friends because they understood and appreciated him for the person he was. While growing up, some of his best friends were David, Sean and Georgia Lynn.

      As the family grew, Shawn was easily able to adapt to the changes and challenges of parenthood. Shawn was blessed with two children, two daughters Cheneyl and Aleks. Shawn was never impulsive in dealing with family problems. Instead, he would carefully think things through before implementing the solution in a logical and objective manner. Shawn was a strong, clear communicator who excelled at eliminating confusion by making matters crystal clear to all those involved. At the same time, Shawn’s inventive nature could turn some of the boring old household chores into a fun activity for the family.

      Shawn appreciated the occasions when he was able to travel and get away on a vacation. He enjoyed learning about different locales and was open to exploring new and different places. Favorite vacation spots included Favorite vacations included Hawaii, New York, New Hampshire, Palm Springs, and Reno. He thoroughly enjoyed the task of gathering and analyzing travel information as he prepared for an upcoming trip.

      Shawn strongly believed that talk is cheap. He was the type of person who would show others his feelings through his actions. He was practical and realistic but was able to be flexible when the need arose. He had a curiosity about the things around him and tried to experience life directly rather than sit back and talk about it. The experiences he treasured most were those he shared with his loved ones. Mr. Shawn Maurice Haynes will be greatly missed.

THE JOURNEY OF MY LIFE

It was beautiful as long as it lasted, the journey of my life.

I have no regrets whatsoever

save the pain I’ll leave behind.

Those dear hearts who love and care …

and the strings pulling at the heart and soul …

The strong arms that held me up

when my own strength let me down.

At every turning of my life I came across good friends,

friends who stood by me

even when time raced by me.

Farewell, farewell my friend.

I smile and bid you goodbye.

No, shed no tears for I need them not.

All I need is your smile.

If you feel sad do think of me for that’s what I’ll like.

When you live in the hearts of those you love

remember then, you never die.