Source: https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/ridgeland-ms/erwin-hines-7460219

Erwin Ralph Hines Jr.
January 4, 1929 - June 22, 2017

Ralph “Stogie” Hines died peacefully in his sleep on June 22, 2017, at St. Catherine's Village. The family will welcome visitors at Parkway Funeral Home on Wednesday, June 28, 2017, from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm with a graveside service following visitation.

Ralph was born on January 4, 1929, in Detroit, Michigan, to Margaret Temple Hines and Erwin Ralph Hines, Sr. In the early 1930's they moved to East Texas and settled in the small community of Carlisle, Texas, where his father found employment in the great East Texas Oil Field. Ralph lived an idyllic childhood in Carlisle and kept up with several close friends to the end of his life. He attended Carlisle High School, which was then a County School with several oil wells on the school grounds. These wells provided the school with an income stream that made it one of the finest high schools in East Texas, even during the depression years.

It was during these years that our father acquired the nickname “Stogie”. While collecting newspapers for a WWII paper drive with two fellow Boy Scouts, they discovered a fresh cigar wrapped in the newspaper. They cut the cigar into three pieces - his two friends smoked theirs, but our father elected to chew his cigar, with the predictable result ensuing, thus he was branded “Stogie” for life.

After graduating from high school in 1946, Ralph attended Arlington Junior College in Arlington, Texas, and graduated with a degree in Geology from Texas Tech University in 1949. He married his high school sweetheart, Shirley Moon Hines, on Christmas Day, 1949, and began his lifelong career in the oil and gas business. Ralph and Shirley lived in Shreveport, Louisiana, Laurel, Mississippi and Dallas, Texas, before settling in Jackson, Mississippi in 1954, where Ralph was District Geologist for Seaboard Oil Company for several years.

In 1958, Ralph left Seaboard Oil Company, and joined his brothers-in-law, Robert M. Moon and L. Harold Moon, in forming Miss-Tex Oil Producers. In 1964, Ralph and Robert went into business on their own as Moon & Hines Oil Producers. They enjoyed many years of success while promoting oil and gas wells in Mississippi, Alabama and Louisiana. In 1976, they were awarded the Wildcatter of the year award from the Mississippi-Alabama Division of the Mid-Continent Oil & Gas Association. Ralph remained active in the oil business with his sons, Scott and Todd, until his health failed in recent years.

Ralph was a longtime member of Briarwood Presbyterian Church, where he served as a Deacon. He was a member of River Hills Tennis Club and was a member and Past-President of the Capital City Petroleum Club. He was also a member of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists. He loved Ole Miss and was called the best non-alumni supporter of the University by former Chancellor, Robert Khayat.

Ralph was predeceased by his parents and his wife of 64 years, Shirley Moon Hines. He is survived by his children, Scott Hines (Jean); Claire Hines Phillips (Logan); Todd Hines (Leslie) and Kirk Hines (Evie); his grandchildren, Lindsay Hines Dehmer (Dodds); Breck Hines (Lyn); Logan Phillips, III (Genny); Meg Phillips Reeves (Len); Vaughan Hines Coffin (Robert); Allison Hines; Olivia Hines Walthall (Leon); Kirkland Hines, Jr., (Heather) and Lillian (Lil) Hines; his great grandchildren, Nash Dehmer; Ridley Dehmer; Rimes Dehmer; Breck Hines, Jr.; Hart Hines; Lucy Hines; William Reeves; Nathan Reeves and Burch Phillips.

He was a loving husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather. He loved his family and was immensely proud of all of them.

The family wishes to express its heartfelt appreciation for the gentle and professional attention given to our father by Sarah Robinson, Philander Tots, Mary Thomas, Verteal Bell and Angela Bratton during the last years of his life. Also, the family wishes to thank the nurses and staff at St. Catherine's Village (Siena) for his care during the last six months.

Memorials may be made to Briarwood Presbyterian Church, 620 Briarwood Drive, Jackson, Mississippi, 39211.