Bothell breakfast-club leader dies at age 85

Elmer Lowell Haynes’ memorial service is set for Jan. 10

Elmer Lowell Haynes was the ultimate hard worker, often logging 16-hour days, six days a week at his Bothell service stations.

“He always said if do something, do it the best you can. No half-way effort allowed,” said his eldest son, Al.

Haynes died Dec. 22, 2008, at Evergreen Hospital in Kirkland with his family by his side. He was 85.

The longtime Bothell resident — who was married to Evelyn Kathryn Keeney, daughter of legendary football local Harold Stevens “Pop” Keeney — always had friends nearby, as well, according to Al. Haynes’ breakfast-club gatherings at his workplace welcomed doctors, coaches, lawyers, electricians and many others. The coffee pot on his work bench became known as “Little City Hall.”

“It didn’t matter if you were blue collar or white collar. Your collar didn’t have a color to him,” said Al, noting that there was a lot of teasing each other and talking about Bothell High football games. “It’s all about people getting along, helping each other out.”

Haynes, a member of the Bothell City Council, Planning Commission, Northshore Rotary Club and Ashler Lodge No. 121, lent a helping hand on many occasions.

“He was big on that. He did things for people behind the scenes that we didn’t find out about until much, much later,” said Al, noting that his dad often fixed people’s cars on credit, even though he knew some owners would never be able to pay him back in full.

Al noted that his dad ran his shops the way he wanted to, even though a member of the Union Oil company thought otherwise.

“Dad wanted him to butt out and told him in so many words. And the man ended upside down in a grease barrel,” Al laughed about the story he was told. “He had a temper, but also was soft under all that gruffness. Especially after the grandkids came along.”

Haynes was born Sept. 28, 1923, in Colfax, attended Cheney Normal School and graduated from Pine City High in 1941. He worked in the Todd Shipyards in Tacoma, met Keeney at a boarding house and they were married April 3, 1943.

After serving in the Army Air Corps as a mechanic and crew chief, Haynes returned to Bothell in 1946 to join Keeney and young Al and begin work as a truck driver and then a service-station operator. He had four children, Al, Bob, Steve and Sue.

Al and Bob continue the breakfast-club meetings on Saturday mornings at Jay’s Cafe in Kenmore and another group meets every second Tuesday of the month at McCorry’s in Woodinville.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Jan. 10 at the Bothell United Methodist Church next to Bothell High.

Remembrances may be made to the Northshore Scholarship Foundation (Haynes was its founding trustee) c/o Keeney/Haynes scholarships, P.O. Box 173, Bothell WA 98041.