Derrick O’Neal Gaines

Derrick O’Neal Gaines, 83, of Johnsonville, Illinois passed away Saturday, February 26, 2022, at St. John’s Hospital in Springfield, Illinois.

Derrick was born April 9, 1938, at Bemis, Tennessee to Harold and Vera (Russell) Gaines. He was divorced.

Derrick was a lineman for Cable Vision and part of the Illinois Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. He retired as a farm hand at Bennett Farms at Orchardville. Derrick was a veteran of the United States Army serving from 1957-1959. He was a member of Providence General Baptist Church where he served as a deacon and Sunday school teacher. Derrick loved to fish, volunteer at the Food Pantry at Flora, Illinois and loved to help at General Baptist Church Camp. He enjoyed puzzles, Bible summer camp, mission trips and church ministries.

Derrick is survived by a son Derrick (Leslie) Gaines, Jr., of Collinsville, Illinois; two daughters Yvette (Dave) Odem of Mt. Vernon, Illinois and Christi (Nelson) Siemien of Sedgewickville, Missouri; one stepson Earl (Rhonda) Burns of Cambria, Illinois; a step daughter-in-law Renee Burns; ten grandchildren Sherie, Mark, Melissa, Sam, Abby, Eva, Anthony, Terra, Aundrea and Heather; twenty-two great grandchildren and one brother Charles ‘Butch’ (Judy) Brown of Melbourne, Florida.

Preceding him in death were his parents Harold and Vera Gaines, one brother Howard Gaines and one stepson Vince Burns.

A Celebration of Life service will be 2:00pm, Saturday, March 26, 2022, at Providence General Baptist Church near Johnsonville, Illinois.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared with the family at www.meridithfuneralhome.com.

Hosselton-Meridith Funeral Home, Cisne, Illinois