John Edward Gaines

John Edward Gaines was born on July 9th, 1968 to Silas and Sybil (Whitley) Gaines in Shawnee, Oklahoma. He passed from this life to be with his Lord and Savior on December 18th, 2023 in Tecumseh, Oklahoma.

John grew up in Shawnee and graduated from Shawnee High School with the class of 1986. He studied welding and mechanics while in school. He worked as a diesel mechanic for Gilbert and Sons trucking for over 15 years. Some of his favorite pastimes where hunting and fishing, fixing up cars for his kids, and telling stories.

He married the love of his life, Clarissa Knight, on January 5th, 2022. John was a member of AA and even started a group in Tecumseh on Tuesday nights. He was proud to have recently celebrated his 14th year of sobriety not long ago. He also served as a sponsor to many in the program. His faith in God was strong and he was a dedicated member of the First Assembly of God Church in Tecumseh, Oklahoma.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Silas and Sybil Gaines, and grandmother-in-law, Rose Ward.

Those left to cherish his memory are his wife, Clarissa Gaines; daughters Rayanna and Destiny Gaines; step-daughters, Michaela and Andrea Knight; sister, Kathy Watts and sister, Bonnie and husband Howard Bates; brother-in-law, Chris Ward and special friends including, Brian Gray. Joe S. and John C.

A celebration of life for John will be held Thursday, December 21, 2023 at 2:00 PM at Tecumseh First Assembly of God Church, 104 South 4th Street, Tecumseh, OK 74873.