Paul Lincoln Haws

Living a long full life, Paul Lincoln Haws, 89, from Newbury Park, California, passed away on April 21, 2024. Paul was born in Austin, Texas on November 7, 1934 and blessed with loving parents Mary Minerva (McCauley) Haws and James Raymond Haws, and one older much adored and spirited brother James Raymond Haws who all have preceded him in death.

Originally homesteaded by his paternal grandfather, he was raised on the family farm, which he loved and was proud of, in the Victory Community of western Oklahoma. Living on a prairie, coming out of the depression, dry farming cotton and wheat, he learned to go without and this modest upbringing informed and refined his value system and his humble approach to life. They prayed and hoped to be blessed with rain at the right time for high crop yields to ensure the family survived and thrived. Through his varied youthful life experiences, it was inherent for Paul to instill in his children the values of perseverance, hard work, self-reliance, resiliency, education, delayed gratification, conservation of water, and to find joy in the simple things in life.

Paul was nurtured through family love, protestant Christian upbringing, his mother’s amazing cooking, and the adventurous stories from his many aunts, uncles, and cousins whom he cherished.

To say he was fiscally conservative was an understatement. You could see the elation in his eyes when he’d find a penny on the ground. He was shocked that people would walk past coins and felt it was his personal duty to pick them up off the ground and then come home and tell us about his financial gain. He wanted to ensure lessons in good fortune penny by penny, "It adds up.”

At age 6, he pestered his Grandfather McCauley into riding his gray mustang, Smokey, against his mother’s wishes. Of course, he ignored the strict riding instructions to keep the horse at walking pace and below a trot, then just far enough away from their direct supervision, he kicked the horse into a run, eventually falling off with the wind knocked out of him and leaving his grandfather stranded without transportation. He was so lucky to have a retired sorrel Army horse named Trigger, which he rode to elementary school. He made the best of high school experiences, where he was involved in FFA serving in roles as secretary and sentinel. By the age of 16, he was in full partnership with his father, taking on all farming responsibilities. In highschool, he was a talented athlete and won a fully paid scholarship to Oklahoma State University. A traumatic farm accident crushed his ankle and he nearly lost his foot, changing the trajectory of his life plan and prematurely ended his football career. As a proud OSU Cowboy, he made the Dean’s List, and graduated with a Bachelors of Science in Agriculture.

With a sad heart, his mom wished him well as he left to pursue his dreams in a “fool's paradise”. He followed his brother’s and cousin Honey June’s encouragement to meet them in Newport Beach, California, where he went to seek work in various agricultural industries. He started out in seed companies, landscape nurseries, and eventually worked his entire adult life with Bandini Fertilizer. He was introduced to a quiet and shy Helena Marie Boster at Bud’s coffee shop in Costa Mesa, California. The two eventually married and lived the entirety of their lives in Newbury Park where they raised their children.

There are so many fleeting memories of him, but one in particular is him practicing to cast his saltwater fishing lines on the immaculate backyard lawn, the smell and danger of his prickly hook filled tackle box, and stapling albacore fins and catch stats to the garage rafters. He’d walk the yard like he was doing a farm inspection and planted fragrant jasmine, plum, apricot, then orange, tangelo, and peach trees. Gardening brought him great joy, good health, and satisfaction. He also enjoyed collecting and recording weather data.

Paul is survived by his wife Helena Marie Haws of 63 years, and his children Dan (Paul Daniel) Haws, Scott Michael Haws, Julie Ann Haws, Jennifer Marie Haws. He was blessed with four Grandchildren: Kelly Lee Kepler, Paul Daniel Haws, Jacob Young Haws, and Cooper Scott Haws, and three Great Grandchildren, Kaiden, Rounen, and Kort Kepler.

Collectively, we fondly remember your teaching: freshwater and saltwater fishing, driving lessons, road trip planning, horseback riding, noticing, enjoying, and experiencing nature, everything in moderation, and so much more. Your picadillos, quiet sense of humor, and funny expressions delivered in dry wit are already greatly missed. Hallelujah Dad! The banana pudding is larruping good and we promise to not waste water.--Family in the care of Destiny Garcia, Funeral Arranger