John Richard Gaines, 68, was born in Lakeland to Doris Freeman Gaines and George Livingston Gaines on September 23, 1945 and passed away on February 25, 2014 due to colon cancer. He is survived by his wife Suzanne Brown Gaines and his son Aaron Travis Gaines and a multitude of nieces, nephews, god children and family.
“Dick”, as he was known to us, is a Lakeland native. Graduated from Lakeland Senior High School in 1963 and attended The University of the South at Sewanee, Tennessee. He enlisted in the Navy in 1965 and was in the nuclear submarine service during Vietnam and the Cold War years. He achieved the rank of Chief Petty Officer. He made this statement about his life, “There are two things I am most proud of: my service to my country and most importantly my marriage to Suzanne.” He and Suzanne were married July 22, 1982 and they worked together at George L. Gaines Jeweler, his family’s business. His brilliant mind was the force behind George L. Gaines Jeweler moving forward.
His primary activity and focus, outside of work, was his service to All Saints’ Episcopal Church. He served in many capacities at All Saints’ to include Lay Eucharistic Minister beginning in 1993, was Master of Ceremonies of many major services and All Saints’ first Verger. He assisted in many other ministries, applying his talents wherever needed. One of his loves at All Saints’ was conducting Stations of the Cross every Lenten season for the last 19 years. He retired from his church work in 2005 due to his illness.
He was very community minded, especially where the humanities were concerned, for instance the Polk Museum of Art, The Imperial Symphony Orchestra and the Polk Theatre. He had a great love of the outdoors, nature, gardening, and being with his family. One of his great loves was his Grady White, “Sugar” and being on the Gulf boating. His work encompassed all of the things he loved: family, friends and tradition. There are many highlights of his life but one in particular was his trip to the Holy Lands and being asked to read the Gospel on the Sea of Galilee. He touched so many lives and loved each one of those lives to the end. It will be our duty to preserve his memory for the generations to come.
My dad served in the Navy in both WWII and Korea and upon his death I used this quote from President John F. Kennedy at his funeral. Think it also can be said of Dick as well;
"I can imagine no more rewarding a career. And any man who may be asked in this century what he did to make his life worthwhile, I think can respond with a good deal of pride and satisfaction: 'I served in the United States Navy.'"
So from the Army to the Navy, Dick may you have "Fair winds and following seas and long may your big jib draw!"
Chuck Bent
John Richard Gaines, 68, was born in Lakeland to Doris Freeman Gaines and George Livingston Gaines on September 23, 1945 and passed away on February 25, 2014 due to colon cancer. He is survived by his wife Suzanne Brown Gaines and his son Aaron Travis Gaines and a multitude of nieces, nephews, god children and family.
“Dick”, as he was known to us, is a Lakeland native. Graduated from Lakeland Senior High School in 1963 and attended The University of the South at Sewanee, Tennessee. He enlisted in the Navy in 1965 and was in the nuclear submarine service during Vietnam and the Cold War years. He achieved the rank of Chief Petty Officer. He made this statement about his life, “There are two things I am most proud of: my service to my country and most importantly my marriage to Suzanne.” He and Suzanne were married July 22, 1982 and they worked together at George L. Gaines Jeweler, his family’s business. His brilliant mind was the force behind George L. Gaines Jeweler moving forward.
His primary activity and focus, outside of work, was his service to All Saints’ Episcopal Church. He served in many capacities at All Saints’ to include Lay Eucharistic Minister beginning in 1993, was Master of Ceremonies of many major services and All Saints’ first Verger. He assisted in many other ministries, applying his talents wherever needed. One of his loves at All Saints’ was conducting Stations of the Cross every Lenten season for the last 19 years. He retired from his church work in 2005 due to his illness.
He was very community minded, especially where the humanities were concerned, for instance the Polk Museum of Art, The Imperial Symphony Orchestra and the Polk Theatre. He had a great love of the outdoors, nature, gardening, and being with his family. One of his great loves was his Grady White, “Sugar” and being on the Gulf boating. His work encompassed all of the things he loved: family, friends and tradition. There are many highlights of his life but one in particular was his trip to the Holy Lands and being asked to read the Gospel on the Sea of Galilee. He touched so many lives and loved each one of those lives to the end. It will be our duty to preserve his memory for the generations to come.
Col (R) George Goller
My dad served in the Navy in both WWII and Korea and upon his death I used this quote from President John F. Kennedy at his funeral. Think it also can be said of Dick as well;
"I can imagine no more rewarding a career. And any man who may be asked in this century what he did to make his life worthwhile, I think can respond with a good deal of pride and satisfaction: 'I served in the United States Navy.'"
So from the Army to the Navy, Dick may you have "Fair winds and following seas and long may your big jib draw!"
COL (R) George C. Goller II
RLTW