William E. Gaines, 91, of Ft. Collins, passed away on Thursday, December 22, 2016 at Garden Square of Greeley.

He was born October 7, 1925 to Paul and Mary (Upton) Gaines in Leonard, Missouri. He graduated high school in Missouri and later enlisted in the United States Navy in 1944. He fought in WWII in the Pacific Theater and Guam. After the Navy, William attended and taught at the beauty school in Burlington, Iowa. He then moved to Dubuque, Iowa where he met and married Phyllis Golinvaux Maiers in 1952. She passed away in 1967. He worked at Roshek’s Department Store until he opened his own salon, William’s Coiffures in Dubuque. In 1961, they moved to Fort Collins, Colorado and he again opened his salon under the same name. He owned that salon until he retired in 1994. William enjoyed music and loved to dance. He also liked hunting deer and pheasant.

He is survived by his daughter, Paula Mammen of Greeley, a step-daughter, Helen Kristine Maiers Wenthold of Wycoff, New Jersey, and a grand-daughter, Caitlin King of Denver.

He is preceded in death by his wife, Phyllis Gaines; his parents, Paul and Mary Gaines, two sisters, Frankie Wood, and Winnifred Copenhaver, and two brothers, Waldo and Greg Gaines.

A celebration of William’s life will be held 11:00 a.m. Saturday, January 7, at the Moser Funeral Service Chapel, 3501 S. 11th Avenue, in Evans.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the U.S. Department of Veteran's Affairs.

An online guestbook and obituary are available at www.moserfuneralservice.com.