Catherine Gaines

Catherine (Cathy) Gaines, 79, passed away at her Davenport home on Thursday, Dec. 12, 2024. A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. Memorials may be made to the family.

Cathy was born in Spokane, Wash., to Charles and June (Morrin) Bowman. She graduated from Davenport Central High School in 1964. She was a multisport athlete competing in swimming and tennis. During the summers she competed in Iowa tennis tournaments, winning many trophies and honors.

Cathy married Bill Gaines in Iowa and they had a son, Justin. Cathy coached Justin’s soccer teams and was very active in the Davenport Central Booster Club. She also played in and umpired softball games for many years.

She was a member of the American Legion Post Auxiliary Post 26.

Cathy worked a variety of jobs throughout her life. She worked for the City of Davenport and Northwest Bank and Trust. She was a bus driver for Davenport Schools for many years, then for Bettendorf Schools until she retired in 2019.

Later in life, she was passionate about playing pickleball, which kept her active and happy. She was very involved with the Quad City Pickleball Club, instructing the adult beginners’ classes in the Iowa QC. She was also highly involved with the area Youth Pickleball Training. Cathy also helped with teaching pickleball to Special Olympics youth, adaptive sports, and others who asked for help.

Cathy had a generous heart. She loved her plants and her garden. She would give her vegetables to those who wanted some, never expecting anything in return.

Those left to cherish her memory include son Justin (Megan) Gaines of Davenport and two grandchildren, Nigel and Jared. Also surviving are her sisters, Cheryl Van De Voorde of Arizona and Linda (Walter) Wells of Kansas. She will be missed by her many friends. Cathy was preceded in death by her mother, father, stepfather, Charles Schebler, and brother-in-law, Jim Van De Voorde.

 Online condolences may be left at the Mississippi Valley Cremation and Direct Burial at https://www.mvcremation.com/obituaries .

Please offer your condolences and expressions of sympathy to the family.