Lynda Joan Gainer's Obituary
Lynda Joan Gainer (Funk), age 64, passed away peacefully at her home, surrounded by her family, on January 7, 2026. She faced a four-year battle with atypical Parkinson’s Disease with remarkable determination. Though her disease primarily challenged her mobility and communication, it rarely dampened her spirit or ability to find joy. Lynda refused to let her diagnosis define her or slow her down. She enjoyed a joyful Christmas and New Years season with her loved ones before finding the peace and comfort she long deserved.
Born in Corvallis, Oregon, to Lynn and Joan Funk, Lynda was the eldest of three and a lifelong Oregonian. As a child, she was known for being kind, hardworking, and “the easiest baby” by her mother. Lynda acquired many hobbies as she grew up along a creek on the corner block of Crocker Rd. in Eugene, OR, where she primarily lived growing up. She graduated from North Eugene High School in 1979. In 1981, while attending Lane Community College, she met Dwain Gainer, beginning a life built on a shared love for family, sports, and waterskiing. They wed in Eugene, OR on May 21, 1983.
Lynda’s professional life reflected her sharp mind and organization. Primarily a bookkeeper, she was legendary for her lightning-fast typing and effortlessly beautiful loopy cursive penmanship. She was most known as a dedicated and loving mother to her two daughters, Kari and Amy. She worked part-time most of their youth to volunteer in their classrooms, Girl Scouts, sports, or other events. From 2004 to 2017, she also served her community as the owner of Curves for Women, where her business-oriented tenacity and feisty, fun personality made her an easy person to chat with, befriending many. At home, she was a talented mother, artist (especially for her hand-painted holiday toll painting decor), baker, shopper, reader, and constantly refining her mastery of the Cricut for family celebrations and fun projects. Lynda retired from work in 2022.
Later in life, Lynda tended to be a creature of comfort who loved a cozy blanket and preferred a quiet afternoon reading on her Kindle or DVR, but truthfully Lynda was always happiest outside. You could usually find her in a lounge chair, by a pool or campfire with friends, sipping an iced tea or sharing Pinterest s'more hacks. Her social nature meant she enjoyed lively conversation and was quick to playfully joke or even challenge someone who held a narrow viewpoint, especially when it came to health and science.
Her greatest joy during this time though, undoubtedly, was her role as Grandma "Lala." A true pillar in the lives of her three grandsons, Carter (17), Hudson (7), and Brady (4), Lynda adored getting all her saved baby articles back out (even though most of it was pink). She was particularly close to Hudson, for whom she provided full-time care during his infancy and through the pandemic. Hudson bravely held her hand through many difficult moments that she absolutely treasured.
Lynda is survived by her parents, Joan (84) and Lynn (86) of Salem; her siblings, Cindy (Fidel) Cuellar of Portland and Darren (Krista) Funk of Salem; Dwain, her husband of 42 years; her daughters, Kari (Shaun) Stewart of Scappoose and Amy Gainer of Portland; her three grandsons and one very special grand-dog, Ziggy. Her legacy of hard work, helpful determination, artistic beauty, and bright, infectious laugh will be carried in the hearts of her loved ones endlessly.
A private celebration of life is being held January 31, 2026 in Hillsboro, OR. In lieu of flowers, the Gainer family kindly requests donations be made in Lynda’s name to the Eisenschmidt Pool in St. Helens where she enjoyed water aerobics & supporting swim lessons for her offspring,https://www.sthelenspool.com/donations or to The Michael J. Fox Foundation,https://give.michaeljfox.org/campaign/754698/donate?c_src=smcidoc-a1bVL000006FYHJ&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Google_Search_US_Fundraising_DonationKeywords_Apr2022&utm_term=sitelink&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=16643389890&gbraid=0AAAAADvg9V8-iBMgGaXr6bKeMUG_0et7s&gclid=CjwKCAiAybfLBhAjEiwAI0mBBih-HAyqeG1LUxpl3iu29ZvprE3UIfoDGspZ9-yOQWR_YeXdlE33MBoCEr0QAvD_BwE)-- to support the critical funding and research for a cure for Parkinson’s Disease
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