Georgiana G. Gaines, 102

Georgiana G. Gaines, 102, of Blair died Friday, July 18, 2008, following a brief illness.

Funeral services will be 1 p.m. Saturday, July 26, at Campbell-Aman Funeral Home in Blair. Interment will be at the Elk City Cemetery.

Visitation will be from noon to 8 p.m. Friday, July 25, with the family receiving friends from 6 to 8 p.m.

Georgiana Grace Gollehon was born Feb. 22, 1906, just north of Blair, to James Marvin and Bertha Gertrude (Peck) Gollehon. The family lived on several different farms in the county, moving into Blair in about 1920. She graduated from Blair High School in 1923. Until her death, her family believed she may have been the oldest living graduate of the school.

By taking “normal training” at the school, she was able to teach at a country school, which she did at Pleasant View School, north of Blair. She taught the younger grades, while her sister, Ruth, taught the older grades. After several years there, she then taught at the Washington School.

On June 19, 1929, she married Elmer E. Gaines of Elk City in Plattsmouth. The couple had one daughter, Mary Lou. Her husband was killed in 1937 in a truck accident, while the family was living in Alliance.

Mrs. Gaines worked in various jobs including the Nebraska Legislature twice; the War Production Board; the Veterans Administration in Minneapolis, Minn.; and for a real estate agent and an attorney in Lincoln. She also helped operate a restaurant in Grants Pass, Ore. Her final 18 years of employment were spent with the Southern Pacific Railroad, working and living in downtown San Francisco, Calif.

She was baptized at the first Baptist Church in San Francisco on July 26, 1970.

Mrs. Gaines lived in Yuma, Ariz., for five years before moving back to Lincoln in 1977. In 1994, she moved back to her “real” hometown of Blair; and had spent the last three years at Carter House Assisted Living.

Her hobbies included sewing much of her own clothing and raising flowers. She also loved her cocker spaniels, both names “Gigi”. She also spent much time reading her Bible.

She is survived by her caregivers, second cousins, Nancy Williby and Steven Peck, along with many nieces, nephews and cousins.

In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her brothers, Clark, Mike, Robert, Marvin, Walt, and Gene, and by a sister, Ruth Decker.

Memorials are suggested to Student Venture or the Campus Crusade for Christ.

#2 Birthday Notice: Printed March 4, 2008 in the Pilot-Tribune, Blair, NE

(photo)

Gaines 102nd birthday

Georgiana G. Gaines of Blair was honored Feb. 22 with a noon luncheon and evening party at the Viking Restaurant in Blair to mark her 102nd birthday. Forty friends and relatives were in attendance.

Born on a farm north of Blair in 1906, she taught at Pleasant View and Washington Schools in Washington County. During her lifetime, she lived in Minnesota, Oregon, California and Arizona before returning to Blair in 1994. She is a retired Southern Pacific Railroad employee. She currently lives at the Carter House with her dog, Gigi.

#3 Funeral Leaflet

In Loving Memory of Georgiana Grace Gaines

Born February 22, 1906 Blair, Nebraska; Entered Into Rest July 18, 2008 Blair, Nebraska

Funeral Services 1:00 P.M. Saturday, July 26, 2008 Campbell-Aman Funeral Chapel, Blair, Nebraska; Officiating: Rev. John W. Emslie, Jr.; Organist: Katie Flynn

Instrumentalist: Neal Peck. Salute to Georgiana with Traditional Irish Harp Music Played on the Mountain Dulcimer

Hymn: “Amazing Grace”

Casket Bearers: Hank Hernandez, Keith Peck, Russell Puffer, Will Owen, Neum Warrick, Ron Williby

Graveside Services: Elk City Cemetery, Elk City, Nebraska

~~~Obituary, birthday note, funeral leaflet courtesy of Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings and leaflet on file in the Public Library, Blair, Nebraska ~~~

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