William Baines Iii

A Small Graveside service for Jay Baines age 72 of Edmond will be Wednesday in the Hennessey Cemetery. The casket will be open Sunday through Tuesday 9:00 am to 9:00 pm. Carol will receive friends Tuesday evening from 6:00 to 7:00 pm at the funeral home. Arrangements are under the direction of Ladusau-Evans Funeral Home.

Jay was born January 5, 1949 in Enid to William J. “Bill” Baines and Volita (Cashion) Baines and passed away at his home August 26, 2021 after a courageous battle with cancer. He attended and graduated from Hennessey High in 1967. He attended Philips University for one year. In 1968 he attended Northwestern State University in Alva and graduated in 1972. He married Carol Smith Baines on June 8, 1971. They moved back to Hennessey and he joined the U. S. Air Force Reserves in 1971 and was a Pharmacist Tech at Vance Air Force Base and later Tinker Air Force Base and was honorably discharged in 1978. He later attended Central State University and received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Mortuary Science in 1973 and worked for Guardian Midtown Funeral Home. Jay started a career in mortgage lending working for Mid-First and Liberty Mortgage from 1976 to 1988. He started working for the Oklahoma Funeral Directors Association in December 1988 as the Executive Director and retired in 2014 after 26 years. Jay enjoyed getting to work with lots of funeral directors over those 26 years. He was instrumental in heading up the Oklahoma Funeral Directors Convention each year. He mentored and helped lots of funeral directors become better directors. Jay loved to go to their home on Lake Texoma and enjoyed all the friends he and Carol have made at the lake. He enjoyed traveling. Jay is survived by his wife Carol, cousins, Jo Elaine and David Matousek and their families, John Arthur Cashion and several friends that cherished his friendship. He was preceded in death by his parents.

Memorials may be made to OMRF-Caner Division with Ladusau-Evans Funeral Home serving as custodians of the funds.

Condolences may be made online at www.ladusauevans.com

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