Morris Lamar Gaines

Morris Lamar Gaines (VETERAN) (PHOTO COMING) MOULTRIE Morris Lamar Gaines, 89, of Moultrie died Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2014, at Sunrise Nursing Care. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, Aug. 29, at Baker Funeral Home Chapel with the Revs. Ronald Barrett and Andy Cashwell officiating. Interment will be in Baker/Hillcrest Memorial Gardens. Casketbearers will be Zack Merritt, Josh Thompson, Ray Williams III, Michael Williams, Chet Powell, Mark Wells, Tim Elder and Billy Paramore. Honorary pallbearers will be Wayne Tucker, Billy Tillman, Ronald Norman, James Grogan, Marvin Thompson and Seabie Eure. Born Jan. 2, 1925, in Moultrie, Mr. Gaines was the son of the late Yelverton Hiram Gaines and Jewel Butler Gaines. He was a retired farmer and a member of Mt. Olive Baptist Church, where he was a Sunday school teacher and training union director. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II on the USS Crockett. He was married to Betty Gordon Gaines of Moultrie for 66 years. He was a devoted husband and loving father, his family said. He also served as vice president of Lions Club, owned and operated Gaines Riding Stables and Gaines Farms and Gaines IGA Supermarket, served as an auxiliary deputy sheriff and served on the governor's staff. In addition to his wife survivors include a son, Ronnie Gaines and wife Lisa of Obrien, Fla.; a daughter, Jean Gaines Oliver and husband Randy of Norman Park; special daughter-in-law Dianne Stanfill Gaines of Moultrie; a sister, Juanita Sloan of Thomasville; a brother-in-law, E.W. Gordon and wife Martha of Cantonment, Fla.; sisters-in-law Juanita Weeks Gaines, Mary Ellen Melton Gaines of Funston and Ione Price Gaines of South Carolina; grandchildren Ben Gaines and Mikela, Matt Gaines and Morgan, Jessica Gaines, Joe Ben Griffin and Jessica, and Laura Jean Oliver; great-grandchildren Rhett Gaines and Willow Gaines. He was preceded in death by three brothers, Bernard Gaines, Clarence Gaines and Billy Gaines; and three sisters, Norma Gaines Joyner, Marie Gaines Buckner and Betty Gaines Chastain. Visitation will be from 6 p.m.-8 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 28, at the funeral home. Arrangements have been entrusted to Baker Funeral Home. www.bakerfuneralhomeofmoultrie.com .