Denis Gaines

Denis W. Gaines, Sr., 82, passed away on June 8, 2019 at home in Comfort, Texas. He was born in Sharon, Mercer Co., Pennsylvania to Harry W. and Ruth (neé Koonce) Gaines on April 8, 1937. He married Patricia J. Edmundson Butler on April 18, 1970 in Clute, Brazoria Co., Texas. \r\nHe graduated from PSJA High School in Pharr, Texas, in 1955 and then attended Allen Military Academy in Bryan, Texas. He joined the Texas Army Reserves in 1955 and worked as a supply clerk until his separation in 1961. He worked as a mechanic for the R.L. Kinsel Company in Houston until 1974, when he decided that he'd rather work for himself. \r\n\r\nDenis and Pat began collecting "everything from lace to plows" in the early 1970s and have owned the Highway 87 Flea Market in Comfort since the mid-90s. \r\n\r\nDenis is preceded in death by his parents, Harry and Ruth Gaines, his sister, Nancy Little, and his step-daughter, Marcia E Butler. \r\n\r\nHe is survived by his wife, Pat, his children, Rev. Father Michael E Butler and Annette Butler of Livonia, Michigan; Denis Wesley and Mary Gaines of Mesquite, Texas; Ms. Becky S Baker of Palestine, Texas; Ms. Julie J Gaines of Comfort; his sister, Dorothy Chapapas of Mission, Texas, and his half-brother, Sam Tallo and his wife, Mary Ellen, of Kennerdell, PA ; his seven (7) grandchildren, Jeremy and Christopher Butler of Livonia, Michigan; Sara, Barbara (Bobbie), Emily, and Hannah Gaines of Mesquite, Texas; and Ricky Baker of Palestine, Texas. \r\n\r\nVisitation will be Thursday, June 13 from 6-8pm with a Memorial on Friday, June 14 at 2pm at Grimes Funeral Home in Kerrville, Texas. Burial arrangements at Restwood Memorial Cemetery in Clute, Texas will be announced as soon as plans are confirmed. \r\n\r\nThe family wishes to extend our sincere thanks to the Hill Country Memorial Hospice staff, especially Carol Latham, R.N. and Irene Gurrola, C.N.A., for their care and compassion during the past few weeks. Their patience when Denis told them to "wait a minute" was beyond measure and we are unable to fully express our thanks and gratitude during our time of great strife and sorrow. \r\n\r\n\r\n