Elvin Gaines, son of the late Fount Gaines and Josie White Gaines was born on March 30, 1923 in Dudley, Missouri and departed this life on January 7, 2017 at the Crowley Ridge Care Center in Dexter, Missouri at the age of 93.

Mr. Gaines retired from General Motors in Pontiac, Michigan, member of the Dexter First Church of the Nazarene, and a resident of Dexter.

On July 1, 1944, he was united in marriage to Betty Jo Webb in Keego Harbor, Michigan.  Mrs. Gaines preceded him in death on November 29, 1996.

Survivors include one son, Larry Gaines of Dexter; one daughter, Dana McClure and husband Dan of Dexter; by one brother, Melvin Leo Gaines of Winter Haven, Florida; seven grandchildren, Laura Cooper (Charles) of Dexter, Scott Boroff (Kim) of Danville, California, Christy McMullin (Robert) of Dexter, Cheri Wells (Tim) of Sikeston, Jeff Kraft of Cape Girardeau, Brian Kraft of Clarkston, Michigan, Catherine Craft (Keith) of Dexter; also by fourteen great-grandchildren, and five great-great-grandchildren.

Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by one son, William G. Gaines; one daughter, Jolene Kraft; by four brothers, Clayton Gaines, Earl Gaines, Coy Gaines, Cecil Gaines; also by two sisters, Thelma Stacy and Ilene Gaines.

Friends may call at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter from 10:00 until 11:00 A.M. Thursday January 12, 2017. 

Funeral services will then be conducted on Thursday at 11:00 A.M. in the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Chapel in Dexter with Rev. Doug West officiating. 

Interment will follow at the Armstead Dowdy Cemetery.
    
Family request that memorials can be made to Dexter Senior/Nutrition Center, 23 West Stoddard Street, Dexter, Missouri 63841: Stoddard County ARC, P.O. Box 444, Dexter, Missouri 63841: or The Salvation Army, 1035 East Malone Ave, Sikeston, Missouri 63801.