Phillip (Phil) Haynes, age 87, of Gridley passed away peacefully in his home on July 3, 2025,

surrounded by his loving family and his beloved dog.

  Phil was born October 12. 1937 in Watsonville, California and spent most of his early childhood in the Berryessa area of San Jose, which was a rural farming community at the time. He grew up working in his great uncle's prune and apricot orchards. He knew early on, the only thing he wanted to do was become a farmer. Industrious from a very young age and with a strong work ethic as the foundation of his personality, he began raising chickens that his mom would sell to her friends.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          

   He met his wife, Lou Ella (Ellie), at the age of 16 at a community dance for high school

students in the San Jose area. They were together from that night forward and were happily married

for 64 years until her passing in 2022.

   Phil went to James Lick High School where he was on the wrestling team and a member of FFA. He

graduated from San Jose State University in 1961 with a degree in Industrial Arts. During college, he

worked delivering farm equipment throughout Northern California. After delivering a few machines to

Gridley and meeting some of the local farmers, he set his mind on settling there.  

   Upon graduating from college, he moved his young family to Gridley where he taught at Gridley High

School while developing his first prune orchard. As he was getting started in farming, many local

farmers provided mentoring for which he was always grateful. He made many good friends while

teaching math, shop, and mechanical drawing, and remained friends with many of his students

throughout his life. By 1967, he was a full-time farmer. He spent his first 31 years in farming slowly

acquiring, prune, peach, and walnut orchards. He was a talented machinist, draftsman, and enjoyed

designing and building any type of equipment used in his farming operation. He was always seeking

new business opportunities. He built and operated a commercial walnut dehydrator on his farm, in

addition to doing various commercial farming work. His final 33 years in farming were in rice, growing

rice and then leasing the ground.

   He was involved in several community and business organizations including the Gridley Rotary Club,

a 6th generation member of the Masonic Lodge, and serving several terms on the Board of Directors

for both the Butte Water District and the Federal Land Bank. Phil enjoyed pheasant

and duck hunting,especially. What he loved most about hunting was the comradery and fellowship of his fellow hunters.. For many years he was a member of a local hunting club.

  Phil  is survived by, his three children, John Haynes, Carol Haynes Smith (Douglas), and Julia Haynes McConaughy (Patrick). He is also survived by five grandchildren.

He was predeceased by his wife, Lou Ella (Ellie) Haynes, his parents, Karl F. and Blanche Burton

Haynes, and his siblings, John Burton Haynes and  Mary Haynes.

  He will be deeply missed and fondly remembered by those who knew him. A celebration of his life will

be held at a future date. Contributions can be made to North Butte Masonic Lodge #230 - 1200

Sycamore St. - Gridley, CA 95948 or your favorite charity.

Arrangments entrusted to Gridley Block Funeral Chapel, 530-846-2138