Douglas Neal Jaynes

How do you measure a life? The number of flight hours might be a place to start for Douglas Jaynes for which there were more than 14,000 of them. How did he fill in the dash? 12/23/1950 - 4/20/2023. My father died with a full heart. He loved, he lived whether it was flying in every state, except for Hawaii. He spent time with the Lord at 40,000 feet. He told me of conversations he would have while looking at God’s creation. We had about 35 more years with him than I ever thought I would have. He had a plane crash in 1987 in his 1947 Stinson. The culprit behind the crash was a broken leather throttle strap. A man at a grass strip in Huntersville, North Carolina, pulled Dad out of the burning wreckage. God answered many childhood prayers that day. Or another time when he had a fire light on one engine above downtown Detroit in a DC-3, and while talking to air traffic control, the other engine blew up. That was one of many times. God protected my father. Dad was an excellent pilot. Some of his relatives fondest memories are taking casual flights around the area. He got his private pilots license at 16 years old. Later, he served his country in the US Army as a Vietnam era CW2 (warrant officer)Huey pilot. He was a proud Veteran. I would contend he was a patriot.

Being from North Carolina, he flew many NASCAR drivers to the races. Some were: Richard Childress, Dale Earnhardt SR, and Neil Bonnett. Man did he have some stories involving Dale. In later years, he flew other celebrities such as Terry “Hulk“ Hogan, André the Giant, Robert Redford, Paul Newman, and a newer actor named Jason Bateman on his 21st birthday. There was a heck of a story to that trip. Dad even has some uncredited movie contributions. One that I know of was the beginning cloud sequence in the movie "Flight of the Intruder". For a time he would tow targets thousands of feet behind him in a Lear Jet. This was in order to conduct Naval weapons certifications. Also, he would be engaged to go offshore and test the civil defense systems for intercepts with F-4 , F-15, and F-16's.

Partly his sense of patriotism and his Christian belief led him to become a Freemason. His great uncle, Oval Jaynes, was a Freemason and he admired him greatly. Dad was a mason for 30 years, and moved through the positions to be a past master of Golden Isles Masonic lodge # 707, St. Simons Island, Georgia. He was a lifelong member of the Methodist Church. He became a Christian at a young age and was baptized. He never boasted about charity. However, if he saw anyone that needed a meal he would ensure they did not go hungry. Family was very important to Doug. He very much loved his sons, Grayson and David. He loved his grandchildren, Grayson Jaynes II, Amelia Jaynes and Margaret Peterson. Thanksgiving and holiday gatherings at his parents' home were especially meaningful. Those times with children, siblings, parents, elders, nieces, and a nephew we would enjoy stories, bad jokes, and food. We better not forget his bear hugs that we all cherished as well.

Doug loved to cook whether it was the family brownstone cake recipe or his special steak sauce. He always enjoyed sharing a meal with family, especially southern cooking. He had a great singing voice, and at one point a teacher wanted him to go to Nashville. Other things he enjoyed greatly were books, and great movies that would touch his soul. He really was truly passionate about a few things. He had friends all over the United States and even the world. He did his best to maintain those relationships even after he could no longer fly planes due to medical requirements. He was the local airport bum, also known as an A&P mechanic and aviation inspector. He enjoyed every time he could get into the air. He maintained his CFI, certification, thus helping pass on his piloting skills to future generations. There is a poem by John Magee that my father loved.

“Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of earth, and dance the skies on laughter, silvered wings; sunward I’ve climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth of sun split clouds – – and done 100 things you have not dreamed of – – wheeled in sword and swung high in the sunlit silence. Hovering there, I’ve chased the shouting wind along, and flung my eager craft through footless halls of air… up, up the long, delirious, burning blue, I’ve top the wind – swept heights with easy grace, where never lark, or even eagle flew – – and while with silent, lifting mind, I’ve trod the high interest past sanctity of space, put up my hand and touch the face of God”

Dad, you’ve got your wings back. We Love you.

Douglas Neal Jaynes was born in Morganton, North Carolina, on 12/23/1950 to Jimmie and Juanita Jaynes. His mother, Juanita, Jaynes, and sister Lynn Honeycutt preceded him in death. He passed away on April 20, 2023 in Burnet, TX. It was in his sleep at around 4:30 in the morning. He was on the same property as his eldest son, Grayson Jaynes, and family. He is survived by his father Jimmie Jaynes, brother Nathan and SIL Theresa Jaynes all of Morganton, Son David Jaynes, & granddaughter Margaret Peterson of Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Son, Grayson, Jaynes, and DIL, Amanda Jaynes, grand children Grayson Jaynes II and Amelia Jaynes of Burnet Texas, as well as many nieces, a nephew, and lifelong friends.