Obituary of C.B. (Buckner) Rainey

C.B. (Buckner) Rainey passed away in Paris on January 20, 2014, 45 days short of his 95th birthday. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM Thursday, January 23, 2014 in the First Baptist Church of Cooper. Interment will follow in the New Klondike Cemetery. Visitation will be Wednesday evening from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at the funeral home. Mr. Rainey was born on March 8, 1919 in Klondike to Beulah Ida Sims and Andy Columbus Rainey. Except for a brief time of service with the Civilian Conservation Corps and almost four years in the Army Air Force, he lived his entire life in Klondike. He was a veteran of WW II, serving as an airplane engine mechanic in the 847th Air Engineers Squadron of the Army Air Force. Upon discharge, he returned to Klondike and one week later married Audrey Faye Essary. They were married 68 years. He is survived by his wife, Audrey Faye, son Benton and wife Iris of Paris, daughter Nelda Reid and husband David of Dallas, son Gary and wife Lisa of Rockwall, and son Rodney and wife Channon of Fate. His oldest son, Jimmy Ray, preceded him in death in 1966. He is also survived by 11 grandchildren: Brian, Caitlin, Gage, Jaron, Jason, Timothy, Jackson, and Addison Rainey, Garrison, Meredith, and Susanna Reid and 7 great-grandchildren: Austin Cunningham, Noel, Kate, Ryan, Cannon, Parker, and Emma Rainey, with the eighth great-grandchild on the way. He was one of nine children, raised with 5 brothers and 3 sisters. One sister, Doris Thetford, of Denton, survives. He professed his faith in Christ at age 13 and was a member of First Baptist Church in Klondike for many years. He also had been a member of the Klondike Fire Department, served on the Klondike Cemetery Association Board, and the West Delta School Board. He loved the farm he owned and took care of his land and cattle as long as his knees allowed him to stand and still dreamed of working it again. In addition to farming, he worked at E-Systems in Greenville for 27 years and retired in 1979. In retirement, he continued to work on the farm but spent countless hours attending high school sporting events. He watched his children and grandchildren play or coach sports for almost 50 years and was proud to have seen two sons coach state championship teams. He also loved watching sports on TV and was and avid supporter of the Texas Rangers, Dallas Mavericks, and Dallas Cowboys. He had a memory that amazed his family and friends, even during his last week in the hospital as he related events from his long life to his children. Special thanks to Angie Sharpton, C.B.'s caregiver for 3 years. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Klondike Fire Department.