Rev. Dr. Melvin Gainer, Jr., son of the late Melvin Gainer, Sr. and
Ethel Mae Jones Gainer, was born March 2, 1920, at Richwood, W. Va.,
and departed this life in the Veterans Administration Medical Center
at Memphis, Tenn., on Saturday, Feb. 1, 2003, at the age of 82. Dr.
Gainer was a member of the Friendship Baptist Church in Dexter. He had
traveled the world establishing churches, giving his testimony and
preaching. Locally, he established the Westside Baptist Church in
Dexter. He has two Doctorate degrees from Southwest Baptist University
in Bolivar. He was the former owner of Gainer's Jewelry Shop in Dexter
for over 40 yeas and the former mayor of Dexter. He was a veteran of
the United States Army, serving in World War II. He served as a scout
for General George Patton, who nicknamed him "Gainer the
Gunner".
He was a recipient of the
Silver Star, Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Combat Infantry Badge, the
Croix De Guerre of France and two Presidential Citations.
SEE ACTUAL RECORD BELOW
He was first united in marriage to Fern Novella Crump on Dec. 24,
1945, at Dexter. She preceded him in death on Jan. 29, 1986. He then
married Barbara Dix on Aug. 6, 1994, at Gatlinburg, Tenn. Mrs. Gainer
survives of the home in Dexter. Besides his wife, he is survived by
one step-son, Ronald Dix of Essex; two step-daughters, Diane Smith of
Dexter and Lisa Scherer of Jonesboro, Ill.; by nine
step-grandchildren; and five step-great-grandchildren. Besides his
first wife and parents, he was preceded in death by three step-sons,
Lanny Dix, Kenneth Dix and Steven Dix; one brother; and five sisters.
Friends called at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter from 5-8
p.m. Monday, Feb. 3, 2003. Funeral services were conducted at 1:00
p.m. today, Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2003, in the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Chapel
with Rev. Keith Garland officiating. Interment followed in the Dexter
Cemetery. PAID
BRINGING PICTURE TUES A.M.
