Obituary of Glen A Gaines

Glen A. Gaines, 76, entered into his New Life on August 29, 2015 in Centerville TX, following a courageous battle with Parkinson’s Disease. Glen was born June 19, 1939 near Lead Hill, AR, the second son of Clyde and Ruth (Dodson) Gaines. He attended Lead Hill Elementary School, Junior High in Yellville, AR, where he started on the Junior Boys Basketball team that won State. He attended High School & Junior College at School of the Ozarks, Pt. Lookout, MO. He completed his BS Degree in Business/Accounting at ASTC (now University of Central Arkansas), Conway, AR. Following college, Glen was inducted into the Army and served 2 years, seeing overseas duty in South Korea as a Spec. 4 in Special Weapons. Following his return from South Korea, he moved to Sand Springs, OK and was employed as an accountant at Amerada Petroleum Corp. in Tulsa OK. He served as Auditor for several years, then as Supervisor of Gas Measurement, retiring from Amerada Hess Corp. in 1994 after 29 ½ years with the company. While at Amerada, Glen met Carmen Matheny of Tulsa, and the two married February 25, 1967 at Rose Chapel, Boston Avenue Methodist Church, Tulsa, OK. Glen & Carmen made their home on country property near Kiefer, OK, where their three children each attended public school for 13 years. Glen was a Family Man, the proud breadwinner of the family, allowing Carmen to be at home with their beloved children JoLynne, Ginger, and Kenny. He was a devoted, faithful husband and a wise, loving mentor to his children. Glen was home every evening and never missed any of his children’s activities….wrestling, basketball, baseball, band, cheerleading, dance recitals & competitions. He was a very talented athlete and assisted his children with their basic skills, especially in basketball. Glen was inducted into the College of the Ozarks Sports Hall of Fame in 2013, mainly based upon his basketball career there. He enjoyed bowling with friends for many years and was recognized for 25 consecutive years of participation in the ABC/USBC Open Tournaments. He continued weekly bowling until the Spring of 2015. Following retirement, Glen became involved in volunteering his skills & talents. He was a talented woodworker, a skill he perfected while attending School of the Ozarks, and he used his construction skills working with United Methodist Men of First United Methodist Church, Sapulpa, OK. He was also instrumental in forming the Kiefer Public School Foundation, serving as Treasurer and President. When he and Carmen decided to retire to the deep country, they moved to Leon County, TX, building their retirement home on Trinity River Bottom property near Centerville that had been in Carmen’s family since the late 19th century. Glen began bowling in Palestine, TX several years after their move. During hot Texas summers, the couple lived in the Ozark Mountains of Arkansas at Glen’s childhood home near Lead Hill and were very involved in planning and executing the annual Gaines Family Reunion on the Fourth of July. They enjoyed laughing, working, & playing together during these years, as well as traveling to Carmen’s Special Places in Texas and the annual USBC bowling tournaments. Despite his diagnosis of PD, Glen continued to work at both his homes, doing all the necessary chores. When his legs would no longer hold him up, he was not having any fun anymore, and he was lovingly cared for at Centerville Healthcare Center, with Bristol Hospice of Houston overseeing his care, until he crossed the bridge to begin his new Adventure. Glen was preceded in death by his parents and grandparents, a number of aunts & uncles, and several cousins. He is survived by his loving wife Carmen, his children JoLynne Reppond (Mark), Ginger Gaines-Cirelli (Anthony), and Kenny Gaines (Tammy); grandchildren Jordan & Lane Reppond, Emory & Park Gaines; grandchildren Rush, Zayah, and Kobe Lakin; his brother Don Gaines (Mildred); 3 nieces Jeanette Gaines, Karen Ellison (Jeff), and Ronnie Gaines Rojas (Paul Henry); his mother-in-law Mary Lou Matheny; and a host of family & friends from Arkansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, California, and Texas. Visitation will be held from 6-8 PM Wednesday at Green Hill Funeral Home Sapulpa OK. A Celebration of Glen’s life will be held at First United Methodist Church, Sapulpa OK at 10:30 am Thursday, September 3rd with burial in the Veterans’ Memorial Gardens of Green Hill Memorial Gardens. Those wishing to honor Glen’s memory may donate to the College of the Ozarks Alumni Scholarship Fund, Pt. Lookout, MO, or the Kiefer Public School Foundation, Kiefer, OK. Family will headquarter at the home of Kenny Gaines in Bixby.