Charlie Gaines

Charlie Gaines passed away peacefully at his family home on March 13, 2011.

Known as Charlie, Bud, or Chuck, depending on which family member or friend you were talking to, Charlie Gaines was born in Durango, Colorado in 1927 to Julia Pearl and “Mac” Gaines. He had one sibling, sister Bertha Gaines. Bertha called him her “buddy” from the time he was born—a nickname that stuck. In the mid to late 1800’s Charlie’s grandfather and great uncles homesteaded land in the Animas valley.

Charlie enlisted in the Navy when he was 18 years old and served in WWII from 1945 to 1948. After his discharge from the Navy he returned to Durango and worked on a seismograph crew in Wyoming, Colorado, and New Mexico. In 1951 Charlie married Ivy Grimes from the Upper Piedra, near Pagosa Springs. Charlie and Ivy had three children. In 1959 Charlie started his own collection agency, San Juan Recovery Bureau. In 1974 Charlie took up flying, a lifelong dream.

Throughout his life Charlie explored the mountains and deserts of the Four Corners area backpacking, skiing, camping, and fishing with family and friends. His flying adventures took him to the Baja Peninsula where he fell in love with the region’s culture, people, language, and rugged terrain; he made numerous return trips there throughout the years. Charlie and Ivy lived the last 38 years in a home across and down the street a couple of houses from the house where he was born.

Charlie is preceded in death by his sister Bertha Hubertus and daughter Marcie Gaines.

Charlie is survived by his wife Ivy Gaines of 60 years, son Ron Gaines of Vancouver Washington, daughter Carolyn Gaines of Aztec, NM, three grandchildren: Alison, Andrew, and Patrick Gaines, as well as his loving and devoted nieces, nephews, and their children.

A summer gathering will be held in celebration of Charlie’s life.