Jerry B. Baines

Services for Jerry B. Baines will be 11:00 a.m., Thursday, April 5, 2018 at First Baptist Church; burial will follow at Woodlawn Cemetery. Friends may visit at the funeral home on Wednesday, April 4 from 1 pm - 8 pm, with family receiving visitors from 6 pm - 8 pm. Jerry went home to be with the Lord on Wednesday, March 28, 2018. He was 75.

Born August 12, 1942, in Tahlequah to Thomas William and Lillian Nadine (Sweatt) Baines, Jerry attended schools in Tulsa, graduating from Will Rogers High School with the class of 1960. He continued his education at Oklahoma State University, receiving a Bachelor’s Degree in Art, in 1964. While at OSU, Jerry trusted in the Lord, mentoring under Dave Hannah, who was the founder of Athletes In Action.

Between his junior and senior years at OSU, he enlisted with the Marines and went to Officer Candidate School, achieving the rank of 2nd Lieutenant. Following his honorable discharge, Jerry went to UCLA, where he worked for Campus Crusade for Christ under Hal Lindsey. During that time, Jerry met a fellow staff member, Gwynn Fleming, and a courtship began. He then worked for Billy Graham’s film company, World Wide Pictures.

With a calling in his heart, Jerry began classes at Dallas Theological Seminary in 1965. Jerry and Gwynn married on May 20, 1967. After he graduated from seminary in May 1969, with a double Masters in Theology and Christian Education, he worked for the Dallas County Boys Home as a juvenile officer. In 1972, Jerry was offered a job with the Federal Courts as a probation officer. In 1974 he moved to Tulsa, where he continued working for the Federal Courts. Jerry retired in 1998 with the title of Director of Pre-Trial services, U.S. Courts, Northern District of Oklahoma. In 2001 he became the Chaplain at Baptist Village in Owasso, where he worked until he retired in 2008.

Jerry continued his calling, even after retirement, by filling in as pastor for churches, and was a mentor for many people throughout his life. He enjoyed traveling and spending time with his family.

Jerry is survived by his wife Gwynn, of nearly 51 years; his children Rebecca Doucette and husband Bob of Tulsa; Luke Baines and wife Jennifer of Verdigris; and Elizabeth Cook and husband Doug of Dickson, Tennessee; his grandchildren Seth Baines, Ethan Baines, Noah Cook and Lyla Cook, and his brother Tom Baines of Oklahoma City. Jerry was preceded in death by his parents and his son Noah Baines.

In lieu of flowers, consider making a donation in Jerry’s memory by contributing to his dear friends who are missionaries based in Nicaragua, BMDMI (Baptist Medical Dental Mission International), in care of Darrel and Cathey Johnson Ministries, 11 Plaza Drive, Hattiesburg, MS 39402.