Dorothy Baxley Gainer's Obituary
Dorothy was born in Elba, Alabama, the last and 13th child to Mamie Fowler and Lewis Stephen Baxley on 10 Dec 1934. She started school in Springfield, Florida, where her family has been since the late 1930s. She left Springfield after 2 years at Bay High School to further her education and broaden her horizons. She graduated from Moses Lake High School in the state of Washington, and a year later joined the Army 1953-55.
She then traveled out west with her childhood friend June, and ended up in Phoenix, Arizona. June was to go out on a date with a young Air Force Captain but was unable to go, so she sent Dorothy in her place. She and Capt. Giles Gainer had a date by the Officers pool and hit the road to Las Vegas. Two weeks later he asked her to marry him, and they married the following January. They stayed in Phoenix while Giles was a flight instructor, and their first daughter Cheryl was born. Married life took them to Japan, and the birth of their second daughter Monique. Dorothy was the quintessential Officers wife. Back stateside, she was a housewife until her oldest started Jr. High, then she started worked in Defense Contracts, and retired in 1996.
They built their retirement home on Lake Martin in 1988 and resided there until Giles passed away in 2019. After his death, she lived between her house and her daughters in Chipley. She spent the last several years of her life traveling, meeting and eating with friends and relatives. Cheryl and her beloved Momma made three cross country trips in an RV to California to see her oldest friend, Pat Mearns. Family and friends were very important to her, and she valued them dearly.
She was preceded in death by her parents, 7 brothers and 5 sisters, daughter Monique, husband Giles, and numerous nieces and nephews. She is survived by her daughter Cheryl, grandson Stephen, and numerous nieces and nephews.
Graveside service will be held on 12 August, 10:00 am CDT (11:00 am EDT) at Ft Mitchell National Cemetery, Ft Mitchell, Alabama. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her honor at First Presbyterian Church, 658 5th Street, Chipley, FL 32428.
Radney Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Dorothy Baxley Gainer.
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