Born October 11, 1922 to the late Percy and Katie Gainey, Willam "Da" "Bill" "Wig" "Truckman" Gainey walked through the gates of heaven with a "Hey,good lookin" to the love of his life, Elizabeth "Meem" "Betty" Gainey on October 10, 2021, just one day short of his 99 ^th birthday. I'm sure they tipped back the shine and danced all day long at the Moose Lodge.

William was a proud veteran of the United States Army and served infantry during World War 2, earning himself 3 medals during his service (American Service Medal, European African Middle Eastern Service Medal, and WW2 Victory Medal).

Da lived life big; full of life, adventures, and family. Having worked with machinery at Johnson & Johnson for a number of years, William went on to own a gas station. After his days of bootlegging moonshine with his brothers, they made the move to Florida to start his trucking company where he was a truck driver until retirement. He loved the beach almost as much as he loved Old Milwaukee's Best.

Da is survived by "lots and lots" of family; son, Richard Gainey; daughters, MaryAnn McMillian and Debbie Noland; 7 grandchildren, but let's be honest we were his kids too; many great-grandkids, last count was 20; many, many great-great-grandkids, we didn't even try to count those; his little sister, Roene Jones; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

He is preceded in death by the love of his life, his soul mate and best friend of 65+ years, his "Suge", Elizabeth Gainey (sometimes Betty when she wasn't paying attention, and "Meem" to us); his parents, Katie and Percy Gainey (fun fact, Percy invented the Gainey Tobacco Dryer); sisters, Willa Mae Gainey and Pearline Blackmon; brothers (The Gainey Boys), Robert, Waymon, Walter, David, and Clayton; and their beloved dog, Bootsy…not really, he hated that dog and now go was your doggy hands.

A service honoring the life of Da will be held at Arlington Park Funeral Home (6920 Lone Star Road Jacksonville, Florida) on October 19, 2021 starting at 11am.

In lieu of flowers, Bill requests you to vote Republican.

Please use this link to attend the service for William virtually through Zoom: https://viewneral.zoom.us/j/ 98519319618?pwd= SUwzM2JSK25Vb1NqS3YxWWs0K0RVQT 09

Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Arlington Park Funeral Home.

( https://www.tributeslides.com/ tributes/show/NRMD6TLLFDJX2F66 )