Ursula Gaines

Ursula Louise Jeffrey Gaines, 76, died on Oct. 3, 2014, after a long battle with multiple myeloma. In true Ursula style, she achieved remission and enjoyed good health multiple times throughout her ten-year battle, and lived both longer and better than her doctors predicted.

She was born on June 7, 1938 in Lockhart, Texas to James P. Jeffrey and Louise Byrne Jeffrey. Ursula

grew up in Austin and Lockhart and graduated from Lockhart High in 1957.

Ursula met Jimmy F. Gaines, of Childress, Texas, when he was her waiter for the sit-down Sunday dinners at Littlefield Dorm at UT Austin. Upon Jimmy”s graduation from UT in 1959, they married in the First Methodist Church of Lockhart and moved to Los Angeles to begin their life adventure together.

Ursula graduated with a degree in art from UCLA in 1961. She was a devoted, dedicated and interested mother to four children. Her eldest grandchild dubbed her “the four-year-old grandmother,” for the way she was always willing to get into and truly enjoy whatever game was in the works.

Ursula spent many amazing years in Topanga Canyon, California with husband Jim raising her four children and making lifelong friends. Ursula and Jim then returned to their home state of Texas.

A gifted artist, Ursula used her great skill and vision to enhance the many houses she remodeled. An avid outdoorswoman, she was well known for her ability to soothe, calm and eventually ride even the wildest of horses.

She adored traveling and was ever ready for any adventure that came up; indeed, to Ursula, every day that she lived was an opportunity to find a new adventure, challenge or experience. She was utterly devoted to her husband, Jimmy. Theirs was a never-ending romance that remains an inspiration to their children.

Ursula is survived by her husband Jimmy; brother, Jimmy Jeffrey, of Lockhart, Texas and his son, Jim P. Jeffrey, of Round Rock; four children: Katherin Gaines Kennedy, her husband Ron Kennedy, and their children Cassiopia Kennedy Bernreuter and Caitlin Kennedy of, Glendale, Ariz.; Jeffrey Gaines, his wife, Jennifer Frey Gaines, and their children Devin Gaines and Eric Gaines of Boring, Ore.; Jennifer Gaines Demarest, her husband Ken Demarest, III, and their son William Gaines Demarest, of Austin; and Patrick Gaines, his wife Jennifer Carr Gaines, and their children Cooper Gaines and Patrick Gaines, Jr., of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; her first great-grandchild, a girl, is due in December; cousins Harold and Robin Henson, and “grandchildren” Mariah and Bevin Henson. She also leaves behind numerous loving relatives and friends.

There will be a memorial service at the First United Methodist Church of Lockhart on Saturday, Nov. 22 at 2 p.m.

The family respectfully requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to further research of multiple myeloma.