Maurice Raymond Hafernik, Sr., born on December 4, 1923, passed on April 6, 2015. He was born and raised in the Catholic and Czech community of Taylor, Texas. He was the youngest of 4 children born to Ruth and Ernest Hafernik.
He met his future wife, Helene Patricia Volinsky, while serving in the US Army during World War II.

Maurice Hafernik was a generous, humble, Christian who NEVER met a stranger. He always had a joke to tell… and attended Mass regularly. He and Bishop John Morkovsky began the St. Cyril and Methodius Slavic feast day celebration many years ago – a feast day that is still in existence. For this and his other Catholic service he was presented as a Knight of St. Gregory the Great and awarded the honor by the Pope some years ago. He as well was a 4th Degree in the Knights of Columbus and attended functions up to his death.