BOMBER MEMORIAL

THOMAS DANIEL "TOM"/"DANNY" GAINES ~ Class of 1965
February 26, 1947 - March 30, 2021





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Thomas Daniel Gaines, 74, left this earth on March 30, 2021, surrounded by his loving family, after a short battle with Covid.

Tom was born in Richland on February 26, 1947, to Doumas and Ardie Gaines. He attended school in Richland with the Class of 1965. Go Bombers.

He married the love of his life, Shelly Bottineau, in 1981, and they spent the next 40 years together. Tom had three beautiful children: Tom Gaines ^Jr (Monica), Heather Gaines and Ashley Gaines Harris (Derrick); and three special grandchildren: Tommy, Aceson and Henna. He is also survived by his sister, Barb Gaines Moore ('62); his brother-in-law, David Moore ('60); his brother, Dale "Joe" Gaines ('73); his brother-in-law, Ken Deery ('66); and his sister-in-law, Tammy Bottineau Deery.

Tom was preceded in death by his brother, Doumas Gaines ^Jr ('61 honorary), on January 25, 1974; by his sister, Nelwyn Gaines (not a Bomber); by his dad on April 16, 2012; by his mother in 2016; and by his ex-wife, Kathy Staley Berg ('65), on October 8, 2015.

Tom worked for Battelle PNNL for many years and retired in 2010 as a project manager.

He loved to spend his free time working in his yard trying to keep it the greenest in the neighborhood and was very proud of it.

One of his favorite hobbies was to find old clocks working or not, repair them to working order and the challenge was to keep them running. He was the best Papa to Aceson and Henna and to all the neighborhood kids. It was always a big deal when he came by and surprised the kids with his magic tricks. Tom also would be willing to help anyone at the drop of a hat when asked, he was a kind soul and will be truly missed.

When I come to the end of the road,
And the sun has set for me,
I want no rites in a gloom filled room
Why cry for a soul set free?
Miss me a little – but not for long.
And not with your head bowed low.
Remember the love that once we shared.
Miss me, but let me go.
For this is a journey we must all take,
And each must go alone.
It’s all part of the master plan,
A step on the road to home.
When you are lonely and sick at heart,
Go to the friends we know,
Laugh at all the things we used to do.
Miss me, but let me go.

~ Written by Christine Georgina Rossetti

As you all know Tom was a "baseball hat, a white T-shirt and jeans kind of guy", so please feel free to wear your best white T shirt and jeans and baseball hat. He would not want it any other way.

A celebration of life will be held at 11 AM on Saturday, April 10, 2021, at the Richland Church of Christ, 933 Thayer Drive, Richland, WA 99352.

Express your thoughts and memories in the online Guestbook.

Bomber Memorial put together by Shirley COLLINGS Haskins ('66).