Richard Lee Gaines

Richard Lee Gaines, 88 of Spearman, passed from this life on Saturday, January 2, 2021 at Hansford County Hospital, Spearman, TX. A private family graveside service is scheduled for Saturday, January 16, 2021 at the Holt Cemetery with Rev. James Stephens and Rev. Eric Varnon officiating. The funeral home in Spearman will be open for viewing/visitation Thursday (1/14/21) 9:00 am - 9:00 pm, Friday (1/15/21) until 9:00 am - 9:00 pm and Saturday (1/16/21) 9:00 am until service time. Arrangements are under the direction of Boxwell Brothers Funeral Home of Spearman. Due to COVID 19 guidelines, we will be practicing social distancing and occupancy numbers will be limited.

Richard was the son of Robert Wesley Gaines and Freda Lenore Boling Gaines. He was born on July 14, 1932 on the Watch Horn Lease near Peabody, Kansas. He attended the Burkett School in his early childhood and also attended Burkett Sunday School in the same building for his early Christian learning. He graduated from Eureka (KS) High School in 1950.

He married Betty Ruth Beck on June 23, 1951 in the home of Owen and Babe Pendergraft (Betty’s parents’ home). They would have been married 70 years this June. Richard and Betty have two daughters, Glenda Close and Peggy Varnon, both from Spearman.

Richard began working odd jobs from about the age of 10. He tried his hand at many different trades before he began working for Phillips Petroleum the year after he graduated from high school. He moved from Kansas to the Phillips camp South of Spearman (in Hutchinson County) and that’s where he met Betty. He worked on Betty’s family farm part-time. It wasn’t long before Owen asked him to take over the farm full time, which became his love career for the rest of his life. He was still helping out at the farm two weeks before he got sick.

Richard has always been a devout Christian man. Soon after they married, Richard and Betty attended the First Christian Church, Spearman. They later moved their membership to the First Christian Church of Stinnett. He served as a Deacon and an Elder, as well as serving on numerous committees for the Church. Richard was also a member of the Masonic Lodge in Spearman for many years and served on the Pringle School Board for several years. He was a tremendous advocate for the conservation of the land and served on the Hutchinson County Soil and Water Conservation District Board for many years. He was awarded the Conservationist of the Year and Betty was awarded the Homemaker of the Year in the mid 70’s. They worked side by side in their farming and ranching business for over 60 years. He even attended Frank Phillips College where he earned an Associate’s Degree in Agronomy at the age of 40.

How do you sum up an incredible life of 88 years? Richard has been described as a selfless man. He always asked how you were doing or what he could do to help you. He never asked for anything for himself, always wanting to give, unselfishly and lovingly. He loved his family more than anything and was unbelievably proud of his son in law and his 5 grandsons. He loved his family BIG and he loved his Lord and Savior even more.

He is survived by his loving wife, Betty, of the home; daughter Glenda Close of Spearman; daughter Peggy Varnon and husband Allen of Spearman; 5 grandsons, Freddie Tucker and wife Becky of Quanah, TX; Justin Tucker and wife Anna of Perryton, TX; Jason Varnon and wife Donia of Spearman, TX; Eric Varnon and wife Leslie of Ft Worth, TX; Richard Varnon and wife Claire of Weatherford, TX. He doted over his great-grandkids: Haley Jones and husband Nicholas of San Antonio, TX; Jordan Tucker and fiancé Thomas Martin of Amarillo, TX; Lynzey Tucker of Abilene, TX.; Taylor Varnon of Gruver, TX; Landrie, Emerie and Eli Varnon of Spearman, TX; Noah, Cooper, Ian and Max Varnon of Ft Worth, TX; Charlotte Varnon of Weatherford, TX. He is also survived by his sister, Beverly Ann Gaines Martin and husband Chuck of El Dorado, Kansas. He has numerous nieces and nephews who are grieving his loss as well.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his sister Mary Louise Gaines, brothers Robert Wesley Jr. Gaines and Franklin Delano Gaines.

Memorials may be made to First Christian Church, PO Box 517, Stinnett, TX or Holt Cemetery Association, 10239 FM 281, Spearman, TX or your favorite charity.