Donald Lay Raines

D-Daddy was born on August 5, 1925 in a log cabin near Vildo, Tennessee. He grew up in a different era with no electricity or indoor plumbing. He came of age during the Great Depression where Christmas presents consisted of a couple of pieces of fruit, clothes were hand-made and transportation was by horse and wagon.

At the outbreak of WWII he did his patriotic duty by volunteering at the earliest possible age of 17. He served in the Army Air Corps as a mechanic on B-17 bombers and was honorably discharged at the end of the conflict. He loved his country very much and will be buried in his uniform.

After the war he began work with International harvester, first as a mechanic and later as a farm implement salesman. He worked in this job for most of his adult life and, as a result, he knew virtually every farmer and every small dirt road in West Tennessee. He was known to his customers as a fair and honest man who always kept his word in a deal.

He was married to Peggy Simmons in August of 1948 and they remained together until her death in January of 2008. He loved his wife throughout the almost 60 years of their marriage and what rare disagreements they ever had was done behind closed doors and never in front of the children. They had three children, Donna West and husband Larry of Jackson, Walt Raines and wife Stacy of Jackson and Paul Raines and wife Becky of New York. He was strict but affectionate with his children. He insisted that they go to church and Sunday school on Sunday. He taught them the value of hard work and honest living through the force of his personal example.

He was active in his community. He belonged to the Lions Club and was a deacon and Sunday School teacher at Highland Park Baptist Church. He was a life-long Mason and held the distinction of having been a Mason for 61 years. He always wore his Mason ring and, as expected, he will be buried with it.

In retrospect, D-Daddy achieved neither wealth nor great distinction in his life. By the superficial standards of this era, he will be little honored. But his memory will live on among his family members, friends, business associates, church brethren and Masons with whom he touched. We would all do well to follow his example of integrity, dedication to duty and leading a simple but loving life. In that respect, he died a very rich man.

He is survived by his three children, 8 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren. Visitation will be held at 12:00 pm until the service time at 2:00 pm on Friday, November 26, 2010 at George A. Smith and Sons North Chapel. Burial will follow Highland Memorial Gardens. The funeral will escorted by the Patriot Guard to the cemetery.