Barbara Annette (Shepherd) Gaines, age 74, of Plano, Texas passed away on May 25, 2019. She was born September 28, 1944 in Lubbock, Texas to Ronnie and Roberta (Hamlin) Shephard. On May 22, 1969, Annette married the love of her life, Richard Gaines, in Lubbock, Texas. She played both the flute and piccolo in her high school marching band in Lubbock, Texas. Annette worked as an executive secretary for Hemphill-Wells Department Store in Lubbock. But she found even greater joy in volunteering her time to various causes and organizations. Annette was a steadfast participant in Bible Study Fellowship for years. She cheerfully donated her time to Desert Samaritan Hospital in Phoenix, Arizona as a volunteer, gift shop jewelry buyer as well as serving as the President of the Hospital Auxiliary. Annette was a leader in her daughter’s Girl Scout troop. She was a true Renaissance woman whose talents seemed endless. Annette enjoyed traveling, crafting, reading, music and singing in her church choir. Anyone who knew her almost assuredly received at least one of her thoughtful homemade greeting cards at some point in their life. Her smile was infectious and her home was always open. People were naturally drawn to her kind and gentle spirit. Annette loved nothing more than spending time with her daughter, son-in-law, grandchildren and especially her beloved husband of 50 years.
She is survived by her husband, Richard Gaines, of Plano, Texas; daughter, Michelle Gaines Fallon and husband, Doug, of Allen, Texas; grandchildren, Andrew Fallon and Abigail Fallon; sister, Jan Turner, of Lubbock, Texas; and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Ronnie and Roberta Shepherd.
Annette’s family will forever miss her caring and generous spirit as well as her constant thoughtfulness of others. There was never any doubt that she loved her family completely and unconditionally. She had a compassionate heart and would do anything for anyone. Annette took great pride in her grandchildren and deeply cherished and thanked God for each of them. Most importantly, she had a rock-solid faith in the Lord and fashioned her entire life around this unshakable faith.
A celebration of Annette’s life will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, June 5, 2019 at Stonebriar Community Church, 4801 Legendary Drive, Frisco, Texas 75034. Interment is to follow at 2:15 p.m. at the Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery, 2000 Mountain Creek Drive, Dallas, Texas, 75211. The family will receive friends during a visitation on Tuesday evening from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow Funeral Home, 2525 North Central Expressway, Allen, Texas, 75013.
The family requests that memorial donations be made to Samaritan's Inn, 1725 North McDonald Street, McKinney, Texas, 75071.