Tyrus Raymond Gainer

Tyrus “Ty” Raymond Gainer, 89-dedicated husband, father, grandfather, uncle, and friend-passed away at home in Spring Hill, KS on Tuesday, April 11, 2023. Ty was born the only child of Dee and Myrtle Gainer in Elkins, West Virginia. He loved his hometown and his family. He had many stories of his Elkins High School days where he was class president of his class graduating in 1952 and stories of farming and hunting in the hills of West Virginia where he faithfully attended Elkins Baptist Church. Ty was an active member of the boy scouts and had many stories of being a scout leader. Ty went to Strayer College in Washington, DC where he earned both his Bachelor of Science in Business administration in 1953 and his Master of Science in Business Administration in 1954. Due to Ty’s love for his country he went into the Army following his education. He was stationed in Germany in the US Army Occupation Forces. Ty finished his active duty and went on to inactive ready reserve where he achieved his rank of Lt Colonel. Ty and his good friend, Don Linger, bought a service station in Parkersburg, WV. It was during this time of his life he met the love of his life Eunice Wachtel. He loved telling his love story where he says it was love at first sight. Apparently it was the same for Eunice as she experienced multiple tires with low air and needed the car’s fluids checked on a daily basis. Ty and Eunice were married April 15, 1958. They lived in Parkersburg, WV, Nashville, TN, and in the last years moved to KS to be with their daughter and grandchildren. In Nashville, TN Ty worked at May Hosiery Mills and then State Industries where he likes to brag of it’s being the number one water heater manufacturer in the world. Also during this time of his life he held many chapter offices in the following associations: Data Processing Management Assn, System and Processing Assn, Tennessee Telephone Users Assn (Risk and Insurance Management Society), Southeastern Telecommunication Assn, Institute of Management Accountants (chapter president, International Board of Directors, Stuart Cameron McLeod Society.Ty also was a part-time instructor at the University of Tennessee in Nashville, Belmont University, and Trevecca Nazarene University. Faith was very important to Ty. He took his role as Sunday School teacher very seriously and taught for at least 56 years. He was a Gideon and always kept a bible and “How to know God” pamphlet in his desk or on his body to be ready to hand those out to those who may need it. He lived a life where just knowing him one could see a glimpse of God. Ty loved to fly and did in fact own a plane with a buddy of his, Ed Arndt. He lovingly named it the “ Green Machine” as it had been painted the lovely color of those bright green fire trucks. He and his daughter would spend Friday nights planning out a flight pattern to go eat Saturday brunches. His wife went one time but chose to keep her feet firmly planted on the ground. He used this plane to fly to Elkins to see his parents and to just fly the skies. Ty was the proud father of his only child, Patricia Joy Gainer Carter, going to her ballgames and every band performance and competition possible. He loved her spouse like he was his son and could not get enough of his grandchildren as being a grandfather came natural to him. He was preceded in death by his dad, Dee Gainer, and his mom Myrtle Gainer. He is survived by his wife, Eunice Love Wachtel Gainer, his daughter Patricia Joy “Patty Jo” Gainer Carter (Cliff Carter), his grandchildren Matthew Carter ( Sara Carter), Michael Carter, and Hannah Carter, his many nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews to which some he was lovingly called “Googa”. He left a wonderful legacy and will surely be missed by many. Celebration of Life services will be held May 28 at Grace Church of the Nazarene at 3:00. Visitation will be at 2:00. Donations may be made to Wounded Warrior Project at woundedwarriorproject.org, St Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital at stjude.org/donatetoday, or Donate Life at donatelife.net