ROLAND HENRY ‘ROLLIE’ GAINES, 86, a longtime Sedro-Woolley resident passed away on Tuesday May 20, 2003 at the Sehome Park Care Center in Bellingham.
He was born on August 22, 1916 in Blackduck, Minnesota, the oldest of twelve children of James & Gwendolyn Feenendahl Gaines. Rollie was raised and attended school in Minnesota until at 17, leaving Minnesota coming to Everett by ‘riding the rails’. He then went to Los Angeles to aircraft mechanic school and worked as an airplane mechanic in San Diego and in Seattle for Boeing.
He was united in marriage to Mildred Pillsbury on August 14, 1942 in Everett.
After serving in the U.S. Army during WW II he returned to Everett where he worked for the Scott Paper Co. He later owned a sawmill near Oso, and in 1956 moved to Sedro-Woolley to assume ownership of the Sedro-Woolley Bowling Center, Fairweather Lanes.
Rollie was a successful and well-liked businessman in Sedro-Woolley for over 25 years. During that time he expanded the Bowling Center from four to ten lanes. He was inducted into the Skagit Valley Bowling Hall of Fame and after retiring in 1979 continued his love of bowling while developing his fondness for a daily round of golf.
He was active in community affairs, serving as President of the Sedro-Woolley Chamber of Commerce and held membership in the American Legion and the Fraternal Order of Eagles. Friends and family will especially miss his well-developed sense of humor and ready willingness to help others.
Rollie was preceded in death by his parents, Jim & Gwendolyn. 2 brothers, Jim & Ted and 4 sisters, Lorena, Clara, Blanche & Betty.
He is survived by his wife of nearly 61 years, Mildred at the family home in Sedro-Woolley. 2 daughters, Lynn Metcalf of Port Orchard, WA and Kathie Westerfield of La Quinta, CA. 2 sons, Steven Gaines and his wife Laurice of Alger and David Gaines of Sedro-Woolley. 7 grandchildren, Cinda Metcalf of Sedro-Woolley, Susan Slotemaker and husband Derek, Scott Metcalf and wife Kim and Andrea Lemos and husband Ryan, all of Burlington, Melissa Gaines and Chip Westerfield of Bellingham and Sean Westerfield and wife Karin of Everett. 2 brothers Al Gaines of Everett and Gary Gaines and wife Marge of Marysville. 1 sister, Jean Brady and husband Ken of Woodinville. 5 great-grandchildren and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.
Special thanks are extended by the family to the staff of Sehome Care Park Center in Bellingham for their excellent and dedicated service over the past year and a half.
Memorial services will be held on Saturday, May 31, 2003 at 3:00 PM at Lemley Chapel in Sedro-Woolley. Reverend Mark Gaines officiating. A life celebration and fellowship will follow at the Sedro-Woolley Eagles Hall.
Cremation and services under direction of Lemley Chapel, Sedro-Woolley. Share thoughts and memories of Rollie and sign the online guest at www.lemleychapel.com