Jason Gilbert Gainey, 37, passed away at North Florida Regional Hospital ICU after a short illness on August 22, 2017. He was born on October 29, 1979 at Alachua General Hospital to Kaye Lewis and Floyd Gainey. He was an Alachua native graduating from Santa Fe High School. He was active in 4H and the FFA programs in the county having grown up on a pioneer farm. He started his career in law enforcement as a 911 dispatch operator for High Springs Police Department. He then went to work for Alachua County Sheriff’s Office as a 911 dispatch operator and was then trained for FEMA disasters. He then moved to paradise, and worked for the Key West Police Department, where he excelled as a 911 operator. After all of these stressful jobs he took a much less stressful job as taxi driver in Key West; only Jason would name his taxi and create a Facebook page named “Sassie Taxi.” He furthered his education to include becoming a Master Diver and a published photographer. He moved back to Gainesville to be closer to his family and join his father in business, Floyd’s Organic Soil, LLC, where he made many new friends. Jason loved to travel and enjoy life to the fullest. He would want to be remembered for his laughter and how much he loved his friends and family. He leaves behind his mother Kaye Lewis, father Floyd Gainey, sister Tori Bass and nephew Kaleb Bass whom was the apple of his eye. He is preceded in death by his maternal grandparents Lonnie and Claudia Lewis, and his paternal grandparents Mozell and Cortez Gainey all of Alachua.
A celebration of Jason’s life will be held at the chapel of Milam Funeral Home in Gainesville on Saturday, August 26, 2017 from 5-7:00 PM, where there will be a time for his friends and family to share memories and stories. For those who wish, please make memorial contributions in Jason’s memory to Alzheimer’s Association National Office, 225 N. Michigan Ave., Fl. 17, Chicago, IL 60601.
