Gaines Loros Godfrey

Gaines Loros Godfrey, 88, died on December 3, 2022, at his home in Durango, Colorado. Gaines was born on January 9, 1934, to Berl Edward Godfrey and Cleva Belle Gunter Godfrey, in Fort Worth, Texas. He graduated in 1952 from Paschal High School and attended Texas A&M University to study animal husbandry, before transferring to the University of Oklahoma where he graduated with his B.S. in Geological Engineering (with distinction) in 1958. He received his MBA in Finance from the University of Chicago in 1972.

 Gaines worked for Shell Oil Company, as a senior reservoir engineer, Continental Illinois National Bank and Trust Co., as Vice President of the Energy and National Divisions, and Mesa Petroleum Co., as Vice President of Finance. In 1982, he started his own consultancy firm, which he operated until his death. Gaines sat on numerous boards, including Hastings Books, Music & Video, Inc., and helped engineer the first leveraged buyout transactions.

 Gaines had a deft hand at doodling, drawing and painting, and loved to photograph southwestern landscapes, honing his craft to the level that he instructed informal classes at Fort Lewis College and had his work published on the cover of American Quarterhorse Magazine.

 Gaines was a lifelong athlete and a well known fixture at the Durango Community Recreation Center. He excelled in football, basketball and track in high school, and played tennis and racquetball in early adulthood. But, his passion was “jogging,” completing 10 marathons over 20 years and logging more than 50,000 miles overall – enough to circle the world twice.

 He married Mary Chloe Burton, the mother of his four children, on February 22, 1958. They divorced in 1975.

 He is survived by his children, Cheryl Ann Godfrey, Robert Berl Godfrey, John Blaine Godfrey, and Renee Godfrey Douglas; five grandchildren; his sister Gail Godfrey Yager; and his nephews Charles Edward Yager, III, and Gage Godfrey Yager.

 Memorial services will be held Saturday December 17, at 2 p.m., at the Hood Mortuary in Durango, with a graveside gathering at Greenmount Cemetery after. In lieu of flowers, please send contributions to Cal Farley's Boys Ranch, 600 SW 11th Ave., Amarillo, Texas 79101.