Donald R. Gaines, age 90, of Farmington Hills, passed away Friday, June 9, 2023.

Donald was born November 8th, 1932, in Detroit, the son of Donald A. Gaines and Ida H. Siefen.  He met his first love at Bushnell Congregational Church, and later married the same Sally A. Potter on September 1st, 1954.  They shared 69 years of marriage and adventure.  He also served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War.  Afterwards, he attended Wayne State University and obtained his Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering and then a Master's Degree in Internal Combustion Engines.

His greatest accomplishments were his profound curiosity and love of community.  As he lit up every room in life, his light provides safety to homes even today.  Donald invented the first automatic night light in 1983 (USD287408S) and produced them at Novo Products, a family-owned company.  He brought life to Sunday school classes for children at Meadowbrook Congregational Church, where he was known as everyone's Grandpa.  Grandpa Don brought baby chickens, frogs, snakes, turtles, salamanders, rabbits, and turkeys to teach young adults about nature.  He taught students from Flanders Elementary School about aerodynamics with toilet paper and a leaf blower, gravity with model rockets, chemistry with home-churned ice cream, and helmet safety with cantaloupes on bicycles.  In honor of his memory, please remain curious and be kind to yourself and the world around you.

Donald is the beloved husband of Sally; loving father of Donald L. Gaines, Susan Brandon, and David Gaines; cherished grandfather of Leighton Gaines and Natalie Gaines; dear brother of Charles Gaines, Cindy Krusen, Peter Gaines, Tommy Gaines, Melanie  Anderson, and Martha Davis.  He was preceded in death by sisters, Karen Barker and Pam Gaines.

The Gaines family welcomes guests on Friday, June 16th, from 4-8 pm, at the Heeney-Sundquist Funeral Home.

Please join us for his memorial service on Saturday, June 17th, at 2 pm, at Meadowbrook Congregational Church, 21355 Meadowbrook Road, Novi.