Dan David Hayslip

Dan David Hayslip, known to many as 'Barsto', was born August 5, 1944, in Albany, California to Daniel B. and Zonia Fuller Hayslip. Soon after, the family relocated to Roosevelt, Oklahoma, where Dan grew up picking cotton and roaming the country driving a wheat combine for the annual harvest. Dan later graduated from Roosevelt High School in 1962, with a class of 22 men and 5 women.
Wanting to see the world, in 1964 Dan enlisted in the United States Army with some of his high school buddies, only to find himself stationed at Fort Sill in Lawton, Oklahoma. At Fort Sill, he completed battlefield artillery training, graduating with distinction. He then received orders to the Berlin Wall in Germany, having been hand-picked to lead a field artillery unit. During his tour of duty, Dan took advantage of all Europe had to offer. Having completed his Army commitment, he landed in the Texas panhandle, working for Diamond Shamrock while playing semi-professional volleyball.
Deciding it was time to get serious about life, Dan took a job in property management in Denton, Texas, where he enrolled at what would become the University of North Texas. Later, he relocated to Corpus Christi, continuing his education and work in property management. Upon graduating from Corpus Christi State University in 1979, he was hired by the Division Manager of Southwestern Bell Telephone Company (known as AT&T) for the Corpus division. Dan entered the company's management development program and reported to work in Harlingen, Texas. Unbeknownst to him, the hiring manager's daughter was also to start work two months later in the Harlingen office. With Dan taking her position, she received word she was reassigned to Brownsville, Texas. Destiny was in motion as both were assigned to the restoration of South Padre Island following Hurricane Allen in August 1980. However, upon hearing the rumors of the romance between the hiring manager's daughter and Dan, Dan was promptly relocated to Corpus Christi, Texas even after expressing his displeasure over the move. While in Corpus, Dan invented the 'DH Closure', named after him, to locate service wires in buried out-of-sight plant. This invention saved AT&T hundreds of thousands of dollars. Its use has been expanded and it is still in operation today.
Even with the separation, the two continued their romance. Using his charm and humor, Dan quickly won over her heart, along with her parents. On December 5, 1981, Dan married Susan Lynn Mellina in Corpus Christi, Texas. They relocated with AT&T to Desoto, Texas where they enjoyed family life raising their two daughters, Cathryn Leigh and Kimberly Marie. Dan retired from the phone company in 2002, spending his golden years traveling, golfing, and fishing. Many of his travels were back to his hometown of Roosevelt, OK, where he presided as president of the Roosevelt Alumni Association for over 10 years, having bi-annual all-school reunions. After being voted as president, Dan's major desire was to be able to hold these reunions in their hometown rather than traveling to the larger adjacent towns. To accomplish this goal, Dan headed up the renovation of the old grade schoolhouse, an endeavor very close to his heart and provided for the building to be used as the town library and other group and community functions over the years. Dan's absolute greatest passion in retirement was entertaining and mentoring his two grandchildren, Marcus Wayne Henderson, Jr. whom he nicknamed 'Poley', and Morgan Elizabeth Moore. He was extremely proud to be their 'Papa' and they will always hold a special place in his heart.
God saw Dan growing weary and called him home on Tuesday, February 14, 2023, in Waxahachie, Texas, having resided there the last 22 years of his life. He is survived by his wife, Susan, of 41 years; son, Dennis Ray; daughters, Cathryn and Kimberly; son-in-law Marcus Henderson; his two grandchildren, Marcus Jr. and Morgan; brothers, Gaylon Lee and Jerry Don Hayslip of Roosevelt, Oklahoma, and numerous nieces and nephews. Dan is preceded in death by his daughter, Jennifer Lynn Hayslip; parents, Daniel B. and Zonia Fuller Hayslip; sisters, Mary Lorene Hayslip Smith and Alene Hayslip Roden; father-in-law, Harold B. Mellina, Jr. ('Buster'), and brother-in-law, Harold B. Mellina, III ('Trey').
Dan will be sorely missed by his family and the community. We take solace in knowing that he is with his Lord and Savior and is looking down on us now. The memorial service will be held on Monday, February 20, 2023, at 2:00 PM at Boze-Mitchell-McKibbins Funeral Home in Waxahachie, TX.
Graveside service: 2:00 p.m., Thursday, February 23, 2023
Roosevelt Cemetery
Roosevelt, Oklahoma