Byron D. Haines

Rev. Byron D. Haines, 97, of Tucson, AZ, passed away on Sunday, April 26, 2026. Byron was born July 9, 1928, in Harvey, Illinois to parents, Russel and Blanche. He is preceded in death by his wife Connie, his parents, and sister, Carolyn. Byron is survived by his children John (Linda), Mark (Rachel), David (Kathy), Paul (Mary), Elizabeth (Todd), and Mary, 9 grandchildren, and 10 great-grandchildren. As a child he enjoyed bike riding, piano playing, and visiting his grandparents’ farm in Indiana. At age 13, Byron received a standing ovation for playing Rachmaninoff’s Concerto in C-sharp Minor at his 8th grade graduation. In 1948, after an extended bout with pneumonia, he came to Tucson to heal.

At the University of Arizona, he earned his bachelor’s degree in psychology and via the Wesley Foundation met his beloved wife, Joyce Constance “Connie” Wilson. Married in the chapel of First UMC in Tucson, By and Connie were together for almost 73 years. He earned his Master of Divinity from Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, and completed a year of Clinical Pastoral Education for Hospital Chaplaincy at Deaconess Hospital in Spokane, WA.

During his professional working years, Byron served as a United Methodist minister, a hospital Director of Pastoral Care, and a hospice chaplain. Over the years, the couple sojourned from their first 2-church charge in Earlham, Iowa to appointments in Desert Hot Springs and Independence, CA to Tucson, Glendale, Sun City West, and Phoenix, AZ.

Byron believed strongly in helping people in need, accepting, loving, and championing people as they are. He valued hard work and education and encouraged critical thinking both outside and inside the church. He brought humor and joy to many.  Byron and family, with friends, spent summers at the family cabin on their treasured Flathead Lake in Montana. The memories and stories of building the cabin and various stone walls, wandering Glacier National Park, hiking, playing games, and boating will live on for generations. Further adventures led Byron and Connie to Oaxaca, Mexico, through the Panama Canal, to Oberammergau, Germany, Florence, Italy, Japan, the Great Wall of China, and up the St. Lawrence Seaway to Quebec. In retirement, they experienced many happy years in their desert casa outside Tucson. He enjoyed woodworking, listening to classical and big band music, being in nature, and spending time with family and friends.  Byron never met a stranger and was cherished by many. His laughter will be missed.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 10:30 am on July 11th at Vista de la Montaña United Methodist Church, 3001 E Miravista Ln, Tucson, AZ 85739.