Jackie Gaines

Jackie Cecil Gaines, 87, of Levelland passed away November 8, 2020, Surrounded by his loved ones. He was born July 1933, in Val Verde , Texas to Cecil and Mabel Gaines. Jackie was a 1951 Graduate of Holland High School where he was a great athlete and was involved in all sports. He went on to play minor league baseball for AAA in Temple, Texas. He was a 1955 graduate of SWTSTC in San Marcos, Texas with a degree in biology. He married the love of his life Sandra Via of Bartlett, Texas June 25, 1955 at First Presbyterian Church in Bartlett. Jackie then started his teaching career in Ed Couch-Elsa CISD that same year and later went on to coach and teach in Holland, Texas. Jackie and wife Sandra were blessed with two children, Marisa Gaines Ochoa and Jackie Kevin Gaines. They moved to Levelland in 1966, where he taught biology at Levelland High School. He went on to earn a masters degree in Biology and a Masters in counseling from Texas Tech University. Jackie then became the school counselor for Hockley county and surrounding counties. He refereed Basketball and Football games as well as managing the city pools for many years. Because of his great love of teaching and all of the students, after his retirement, he was a substitute teacher until his early 80’s. Jackie was a longtime active member and deacon of First Evangelical Presbyterian Church in Levelland. He and Sandra loved to travel with their family and friends and to spend time with his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, his mother and father-in-law, Buck and Dessie Via, a brother, three sisters and his son in law Sly Ochoa. He is survived by his wife Sandra, Daughter, Marisa Ochoa, Son, Jackie Kevin Gaines (Lisa), Grandchildren, Lauren (Daron) Corbin, Lance (Amber) Keller, Rebekah (Chase) Odom and Jessica, Jenifer, Logan, and Landon Gaines. He is also survived by his great-grandchildren, Shelby and Kylie Corbin, Blake Ashton, Dylan and Kaleb Keller, Bella Campos and Remington Jackie Odom, as well as brother Teddy (Linda) Gaines. Memorial Services will be held Thursday 2:00 PM at First Evangelical Presbyterian Church in Levelland with pastor Jon Sharpe officiating and with music by Rebekah Odem and Cindy Terzenbach.