Wanda Lee Gaines Coward

On March 15, 1953, Wanda married her first love Billy A. Gaines and the two spent 48 years together before his passing on September 5, 2001. During their marriage they had two children, Billy and Kimbra Gaines. Wanda found love again with Richard Coward and they were married on May 5, 2004, until his death on December 11, 2014.

Wanda would enjoy spending her days visiting with family and friends and enjoying a good meal. Everyone raved over Wanda’s cooking skills, especially her fried chicken and okra. She always made sure everyone was happy and fed. In her free time, Wanda volunteered for Feed the Hungry for several years.

She was a faithful follower of Christ. One of her many talents, she could play all of the old hymnals on the piano by ear.

Wanda was a loving wife, mother, and grandmother. She was a model of kindness and practiced the Golden Rule daily, something she “tried” to teach her children. Whenever she could get her children and grandchildren in the same room her smile would never leave. She loved her family with all her heart.

Wanda attended Oklahoma City University, where she obtained a Bachelor of Science in Business. She used this degree to further her career and later retired from the Federal Aviation Administration.

Wanda was preceded in death by her husbands, Billy A. Gaines and Richard Coward. Brothers, Harmon Barrett, Paul Barrett, Aubury and wife Ramona Barrett, sister, Leora and husband W.R. Mills, and brother-in-law Benny Naylor also preceded her in death.

Wanda Lee Gaines Coward lived a life of love and will be missed by all who knew her. She will be remembered forever by her children Billy Gaines and wife Lisa of Piedmont, OK, and Kimbra Gaines Davis and husband Brad Leonard of Denver, CO, brother, Rex Barrett and wife Maxine, sister, Willena Naylor, sisters-in-law, Jean and Donnie Barrett, grandchildren, Meggan Davis, Brandon Gaines, Calvin Davis, and Jeff Gaines, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Visitation for Wanda will be Monday, October 24, 2022 from 4:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. at Chapel Hill Funeral Home. A service to celebrate Wanda’s life will be Tuesday, October 25, 2022 at 3:30 p.m. at Chapel Hill Funeral Home, 8701 NW Expressway, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73162. Interment to follow at Sunny Lane Cemetery, 4000 S.E. 29th St., Del City, OK 73115.