John Leroy Raines Obituary
John LeRoy Raines, 75, of Garfield, AR lost his long and valiant battle with cancer on Monday, February 8, 2021, at home surrounded by the love of his family. John was born in Prague, OK on November 25, 1945. He grew up in Capitol Hill, OK and attended Capitol Hill High School. John served in the U.S. Army and was stationed in Korea and Vietnam.
John moved to Northwest Arkansas after retiring from Tinker Air Force Base as a crash rescue fireman. Throughout the rest of his life, he helped many people in and around the community of Garfield and was a hero to many, especially his wife. He and a few other friends started the volunteer fire department that is now NEBCO.
He volunteered as the first EMT in Garfield. He started a water well business here in 1977. John was one of the first striper guides on Beaver Lake, was named among the top striper guides in the country. He even has a point on the lake named after him. There are kids, men, and women of various ages all over the country that he taught to fish.
He was an experienced electrician, plumber, auto and boat mechanic, cabinet maker, and farmer. John never hesitated to help anyone who needed it, and will be greatly missed by his family and his community. He was preceded in death by his parents Linnis and Laura Raines and his brother, Dennis Raines. He is survived by his wife, Mary Anne Raines, his brother James Raines of Paden, OK, and sister Linda Kennedy of Harrah, OK, his children, Cheryl Raines of Del City, OK, grandchildren Joseph Reynolds of Del City, OK, Megan Reynolds of Del City, OK, Elicia Reynolds-Medaris, and great-granddaughter Lilia of Yukon, OK.
John Raines and wife Shelbi of Bentonville, Michael Raines and wife Brandy grandchildren Kara and Juniper of Garfield, AR, Tracie Pavatt and husband Aaron of Chickasha, OK. Grandson Lane Pavatt and wife Autum of Gravette, AR; granddaughter Jessamie Nimmo and great-grandaughter Heidi of Chickasha, OK, Joey Meeks and wife Casey of Stillwater, Ok, Heather Cleveland and grandchildren Ryder, Grayson & Jett of Denver, CO and many other family members and friends.
John will be interred at the National Cemetery in Fayetteville, AR. with Sisco Funeral Home in Pea Ridge handling services. Due to Covid, the service is limited to immediate family. In lieu of flowers, we ask that you honor John's memory by teaching a kid to fish, helping a neighbor fix something, or volunteering in your community.
John believed that time spent fishing couldn't be subtracted from your life. We wish he had fished every single day. To plant Memorial Trees in memory of.
