Roll Call Tribute

Donald Bayne "Don" Horne 

February 26, 1933 - February 4, 2025 

Don Horne went to see the Lord on the afternoon of Tuesday, February 4th, 2025. He passed peacefully surrounded by family and friends.

Don was born in Petronila, Texas on February 26th, 1933, to Max and Carrie Lou Horne on the family farm. He had one sibling, Max, and together they learned the ins and outs of farm life. Life on the farm taught Don farming skills, the importance of family and the joy of hunting that would serve him for life. One of his favorite pastimes, swimming in the irrigation ditches, became invaluable to him later in life.

Don entered Texas A&M University as a cadet in the fall of 1951, following in the footsteps of his family before him. At A&M he studied Animal Husbandry and formed friendships that endured throughout his lifetime. When life became tough on the Farm, Don needed an alternate way through school, so he went out for the swim team, received a scholarship, earned a Varsity letter, captained the team and ultimately won a Southwest Conference Title. Not bad for a Petronila farm boy.

Don met Bobbie Chapman through a cousin who set them up on a blind date during his Senior year. They dated for a year and were married in April of 1956 following graduation from A&M. They were married for 68 years and navigated the ups and downs of life together. They were blessed with two children, Bayne and Krissi Horne. Both attended Sinton High School and were successful graduates of Texas A&M University, completing the dream of an all Aggie family!

Upon graduation from Texas A&M, Don was commissioned as an officer and entered basic training at Fort Benning, Georgia. Don was stationed in Augsburg, Germany where he led a platoon in the 11th Airborne, the Arctic Angels. His swimming acumen again came in handy as he was recruited to Germany to coach the Army Swim Team. He and Bobbie used whatever free time they had to travel Europe and learn the customs of the local people.

They returned to the USA in 1957 and parlayed one of their prized possessions from Europe, a convertible Austin Healy, into the cash to start farming in Banquete, TX. Bobbie worked as a bookkeeper at a nearby Gas Plant to keep the operation afloat. His first big break came when Ernest Lane took a liking to Don and provided a farm plot, house and bank loan. This started the progression of farming silage, grain and ultimately cotton that took Don from a small farmer to running a large cotton and grain operation. Through association he ultimately became involved in cotton ginning, several crop-dusting enterprises, seed processing, and banking. He was especially proud of his lifelong association with the First State Bank of Odem and served as a director for over 52 years, continuing as an advisor until the time of his death. A consummate entrepreneur, with an ability to take risk, his belief system was to rely on the Lord, do the right thing by the people you work with and be true to your word. One of his greatest joys was farming with his son Bayne and to whom he ultimately handed off the operation.

His days on the farm led to a lifelong affair with hunting. He loved the hunt but also valued the relationships he built along the way. You could ask him about any trophy and he could tell you the date of the hunt, the circumstances surrounding it and the people that shared in it. This affair started with White Tail Deer in South Texas, often with his son Bayne and friends and progressed across North America and ultimately the World. His favorite hunts included White Tail Deer hunting in Mexico, the Sheep Grand Slam in North America, Marco Polo Sheep in Kyrgyzstan, Polar Bear in the Arctic North and Grizzly Bears in Alaska. He went on Safari's in Africa, accompanied by Bobbie, his grandson Harrison and daughter Krissi on several memorable occasions. While hunts were always exciting it was the friendships and shared experiences in the bush and around the campfire with Bobbie, Krissi, Bayne, Harrison and countless friends that made it memorable.

He was always active outside of farming and loved competition and was an avid racquetball player. He also loved flying and was active as a pilot for over 30 years, flying all over North America. His kids remember many a 4th quarter flying over Kyle field on the way back to Odem after another lopsided Aggie loss in College Station.

Don is survived by his wife of 68 years, Bobbie, his son Bayne and his wife Mary Beth, his daughter Krissi and her husband Taylor Reid and their two sons Harrison and Max and the extended Horne family with numerous cousins. He is preceded in death by his father Max and mother Carrie Lou Horne and his brother Max Jr.

The family wishes to thank Isabel Santellana for her dedication to Don and Bobbie and care and attention to Don over the years.

A Graveside Service will be held at Evergreen Cemetery in Odem, Texas on Saturday, February 8, 2025, 10 AM.

Guestbook available online at www.resthavenfunerals.com 
Arrangements and care entrusted to Resthaven Funeral Home, Sinton.