Cecilia Haynes
July 23, 1958 — September 23, 2022
Cecilia Haynes was born July 23, 1958 in Omaha, Nebraska. Cecilia’s parents Henry and June (Schmidt) Dukat married in 1956 and raised her and her siblings Gary, Monte, Edwinna, and Valorie in Gretna, Nebraska. During her childhood, she enjoyed taking care of her horses, including riding and grooming them. She was involved in 4H- training her dog Tidbit, the Chihuahua Terrier Mix, winning several trophies. She had a love for animals. Also getting into mischief with her siblings. Cecilia’s parents divorced and her mother June met Mike Merrill. Together they had 5 children: Pat, Kathy, Rich, Kevin, and John.
Cecilia finished schooling and graduated from Gretna High School in 1977. She met Mark Haynes Sr. in High School and they were married in 1979. To this union they had 3 children: Jessica, Mark Jr., and Jennifer. After choosing to go their separate ways Cecilia and Mark divorced. She then met Dale and to this union they had one daughter: Laura. Together they raised the four children in the Omaha and surrounding areas until 1991, when they moved to Avoca, Iowa.
Cecilia was very hardworking, she provided daycare services in her home, caring for many local families here in Avoca. She was a chef at several local restaurants. As she always loved cooking for an army, family or not she would show her love by filling up their stomachs.
Along with the cooking and baking, comes her love for canning, and gardening too, she loved nurturing her plants. She enjoyed bowling and was in a few bowling leagues in Avoca and Harlan. Cecilia loved listening and singing to country music, at times it would be so loud, it was like the alarm clock for the kids. Her mailbox was often full of colorful envelopes with letters to read. As she would enjoy writing and reading to her pen pals across the world, including tea towels, stickers, and stationery swaps. She took pleasure in crafting, putting puzzles together, coloring, word puzzles, playing bingo and shopping. If Cecilia was not cooking, baking, gardening, or writing letters she was found at the lake or a pond. Wherever she could find water, she would whip that line, in hopes of catching the biggest fish.
Although fishing is a close second, her favorite way to spend her free time was with her grandkids, Taylor, Hailey, Logan, Caleb, Dominic, Jordan, Tristan, and Kaelee. Including teaching them how to bait a hook, clean a fish, bread it and fry it. You could always find her in the bleachers or a lawn chair being the loudest, most proudest cheerleader and photographer. She adored the family gatherings, birthdays, holidays, or just the weekend barbecues. Most importantly she loved her family unconditionally. She was the foundation who held the family together through it all.
Cecilia passed away on Friday, September 23, 2022 in Avoca, surrounded by her loving family, having attained the age of 64 years and 2 months. She was preceded in death by her mother June; father Henry; step-father Mike; and spouse Dale.
She is survived by her children Jessica Haynes (Troy) of Avoca, IA; Mark Haynes Jr. (Doreen) of Council Bluffs, IA; Jennifer Haynes (Jason) of Minden, IA; Laura Ratlaff of Avoca, IA; 8 grandchildren Taylor, Hailey, Logan, Caleb, Dominic, Jordan, Tristan and Kaelee; siblings Gary (Teri) Dukat of Omaha NE; Monte (Anne) Dukat of Omaha, NE; Edwinna Boyd of Harlan, IA; Valorie (Robin) Dukat of Phoenix, AZ; Pat (Dar) Merrill of Omaha, NE; Kathy (Rich) Laaker of Omaha, NE; Rich (Kim) Merrill of Omaha NE; Kevin (Sonia) Merrill of Omaha NE; John Merrill Omaha, NE; nieces and nephews, other family and many friends.
Cecilia finished schooling and graduated from Gretna High School in 1977. She met Mark Haynes Sr. in High School and they were married in 1979. To this union they had 3 children: Jessica, Mark Jr., and Jennifer. After choosing to go their separate ways Cecilia and Mark divorced. She then met Dale and to this union they had one daughter: Laura. Together they raised the four children in the Omaha and surrounding areas until 1991, when they moved to Avoca, Iowa.
Cecilia was very hardworking, she provided daycare services in her home, caring for many local families here in Avoca. She was a chef at several local restaurants. As she always loved cooking for an army, family or not she would show her love by filling up their stomachs.
Along with the cooking and baking, comes her love for canning, and gardening too, she loved nurturing her plants. She enjoyed bowling and was in a few bowling leagues in Avoca and Harlan. Cecilia loved listening and singing to country music, at times it would be so loud, it was like the alarm clock for the kids. Her mailbox was often full of colorful envelopes with letters to read. As she would enjoy writing and reading to her pen pals across the world, including tea towels, stickers, and stationery swaps. She took pleasure in crafting, putting puzzles together, coloring, word puzzles, playing bingo and shopping. If Cecilia was not cooking, baking, gardening, or writing letters she was found at the lake or a pond. Wherever she could find water, she would whip that line, in hopes of catching the biggest fish.
Although fishing is a close second, her favorite way to spend her free time was with her grandkids, Taylor, Hailey, Logan, Caleb, Dominic, Jordan, Tristan, and Kaelee. Including teaching them how to bait a hook, clean a fish, bread it and fry it. You could always find her in the bleachers or a lawn chair being the loudest, most proudest cheerleader and photographer. She adored the family gatherings, birthdays, holidays, or just the weekend barbecues. Most importantly she loved her family unconditionally. She was the foundation who held the family together through it all.
Cecilia passed away on Friday, September 23, 2022 in Avoca, surrounded by her loving family, having attained the age of 64 years and 2 months. She was preceded in death by her mother June; father Henry; step-father Mike; and spouse Dale.
She is survived by her children Jessica Haynes (Troy) of Avoca, IA; Mark Haynes Jr. (Doreen) of Council Bluffs, IA; Jennifer Haynes (Jason) of Minden, IA; Laura Ratlaff of Avoca, IA; 8 grandchildren Taylor, Hailey, Logan, Caleb, Dominic, Jordan, Tristan and Kaelee; siblings Gary (Teri) Dukat of Omaha NE; Monte (Anne) Dukat of Omaha, NE; Edwinna Boyd of Harlan, IA; Valorie (Robin) Dukat of Phoenix, AZ; Pat (Dar) Merrill of Omaha, NE; Kathy (Rich) Laaker of Omaha, NE; Rich (Kim) Merrill of Omaha NE; Kevin (Sonia) Merrill of Omaha NE; John Merrill Omaha, NE; nieces and nephews, other family and many friends.
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