James Alton "Smiley" Gaines

James Alton “Smiley” Gaines, 91, of Amarillo, passed away on Friday, April 12, 2024.  Funeral services will be 10:00 AM Wednesday, April 17, 2024 at Cox-Rowley Funeral Home, 4180 Canyon Drive, with Pastor Danny Logan officiating. Graveside services will be 3:00 PM Wednesday at Wheeler Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 5:00 – 7:00 PM Tuesday at the funeral home.

James was born December 19, 1932 in Wheeler, Texas to Cleo and Louise Gaines. He graduated from Wheeler High School and went on to earn a bachelor degree at West Texas State University. James proudly served in the U. S. Navy, where he was on the USS Roosevelt Aircraft Carrier. During his service, he was able to sail from Seattle around the southern border of South America and back to New York City. He enjoyed telling about that time for the rest of his life.

James married Glenda Richardson on June 17, 1955 in Wheeler. They enjoyed 68 years of marriage together, until her passing in 2023. They were longtime members of Bell Ave. Baptist Church. James worked for SPS, later Xcel Energy as a clearance coordinator, retiring in 1994, having missed only four days of work in his entire career, due to a surgery.

James enjoyed hunting and fishing in his spare time. He enjoyed all kinds of sporting events, and was known for being obsessive about washing his car. He will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Glenda Gaines; his daughter, Kenda Simms; a brother and sister-in-law, Richard and Dixie Gaines; and a brother-in-law, Doc Perkins.

Survivors include two sons, David Gaines and wife Stephanie, and Donald Gaines and wife Debra all of Amarillo; a sister, Sue Perkins of Sunray, TX; five grandchildren, Scott Gaines and wife Ashley, Jason Simms and wife Jennifer, Marcie Browning and husband Chris, Brad Simms and wife Cassie, and Braxton Gaines and wife Kori; and 11 great-grandchildren.