Dennis Eldon Gaines

Surrounded by his loving family, Dennis Eldon Gaines of Harrah, Oklahoma, went home to be with the Lord on Friday, August 3, 2018, in Midwest City, Oklahoma. Dennis was born on February 4, 1942, in Seminole, Oklahoma. He is predeceased by his mother, Thelma Cain, stepfather, Ralph Cain and sister, Connie McClellan. He is survived by his beloved wife of 46 years, Lynn Burrus Gaines; by three sons and their families: son Ryan (wife Kate) and granddaughter Hannah and grandson Gabe, of Norman; son Braden (wife Kallea) and grandsons Hudson, Cash, and Brooks, of Tulsa; son Tyler (wife Mallory) and grandsons Maddux and Maguire, of Edmond. Other surviving family members are sister Vickie Dolezal (husband Charlie), of Edmond; sister Marsha Pursell (husband Warren), of Aurora, Colorado; and one surviving aunt, Billye Watts, of Moore. Dennis had a long and successful high school coaching career with stops in Perry, Harrah and Bishop McGuiness. He had many unique and special memories at each school. Dennis began his teaching and coaching career in Perry, Oklahoma where he was head baseball coach and assistant football coach. His first year was a great success as his baseball team presented Dennis with a trophy, which read “your first year, our best year”. After Perry he went on to be the head baseball and assistant football coach at Harrah, where he coached for more than two decades. He taught History, Social Studies and Drivers Education. After retiring from public education in 1992, Dennis continued his coaching and teaching career at Bishop McGuiness High School in Oklahoma City. Dennis was inducted into the Oklahoma Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2004, and was inducted into the Oklahoma Coaches Hall of Fame in 2010. Spanning more than five decades, Dennis had the privilege to lead numerous teams to the state baseball tournament. Dennis had 639 wins with 247 losses as a head baseball coach at Perry and Harrah. Dennis loved to work; retirement was never really an option for him, and at age 63 he opened Sooner State Driving School. Dennis was a true fan of the New York Yankees and Oklahoma Sooners and followed them every day. Dennis was a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ and was a member of Choctaw Road Baptist Church, in Choctaw, Oklahoma where he attended weekly with his wife, Lynn. He loved his Connect Group each Sunday and looked forward to interacting with other Believers while studying the Bible. Asa Smith Funeral Services of Harrah are managing the services. Viewing will be held at Asa Smith, 2039 N Tim Holt Drive, Harrah, Oklahoma, the afternoon and evening of Tuesday, August 7th from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. A private graveside service for the family will be held on Wednesday, August 8, 2018, followed by a public memorial celebration at 11:00 a.m. at Choctaw Road Baptist Church, located at 14971 East Reno Ave, Choctaw, Oklahoma 73020.