Chick Rains

May 11, 1941 - January 21, 2022

Charles Victor Rains' life began May 11, 1941 in McLain, Oklahoma. He was the 4th child born to Madeline Carroll Rains and Henry Ellis Rains. Named for his grandfathers Charles Carroll and Victor Rains, he soon earned the nickname Chick, which would stick with him for life. Chick lived in McLain with his family for a short while before they relocated to Yuba City, California where they would reside for several years. In early 1950, Madeline, Chick and the rest of his siblings returned to Oklahoma. After another brief stay in McLain, the family planted roots in Muskogee. Chick finished elementary school in Muskogee, then went on to Junior High and High School there. Chick was a very athletic young man, playing basketball and football. In 1956, he was fortunate enough to be a member of the championship football team that played in Anchorage, Alaska. Many friends remembered him as a fantastic quarterback. He was a member of Muskogee Central High School's class of 1959. While in high school, Chick discovered his love, talent and passion for writing and playing music. One of his first forays into the local music scene was with The Goliards; a folk music trio formed with Mike Settle and Claude Williams. After high school, Chick attended Muskogee Junior College and taught students at Updike Music in downtown Muskogee. He also worked part time for his brother-in-law at A.D.'s Mobil Station. In 1966, he was tired of Muskogee and anxious to pursue a career in music. So... armed with ambition and his natural talent, Chick left Muskogee for Los Angeles, California. While in LA, Chick played with various bands including Six Penny Opera. It was with this band that he would do a USO tour in Vietnam. After arriving back in the US, he would promptly return to Vietnam for a tour with the United States Army. Finished with his military service, Chick was back in LA in 1972 where he resumed writing and performing music. 1977 brought the release of his first album recorded with Greg Harris; aptly titled Rains and Harris. After a positive response to his country music songs, he decided to move to Nashville, Tennessee to write country music full time. What comes next is a career that he never expected but is remembered with great reverence. Chick wrote many of country music's greatest songs. He won countless awards, had #1 hits, and counted many of the music industry's finest artists as close friends and colleagues. Time for retirement, he left Nashville to return to his beloved hometown of Muskogee. He stayed long enough to be inducted into the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame in 2008. Shortly after, he traveled to Washington State to spend a few years of retirement with a beloved friend. He returned to Muskogee for the final time in 2018 where he would spend the remainder of his days. His storied life on earth came to an end on January 21, 2022. There is no way to adequately convey the magnitude of Chick Rains' talent, genius, and creativity. One cannot condense such, a rich life of wonderful accomplishment and adventure into a few short paragraphs. His body of work speaks for itself. Throughout his successes, he remained true to his roots, self-effacing and deferential. Accolades were superfluous to him. Although his career was something of great importance and pride, his family was just as important. Not only was Chick an amazing songwriter and talented musician, but he was also a much loved and adored son, brother, father, uncle, grandfather, husband, cousin, and friend to countless people around the country. Many words can be used to describe Chick - kind, generous, patient, talented, quiet genius... but above all else, humble. We all feel immense love and pride in our memories of Chick. There is an intense sadness and emptiness felt here on this side of eternity without him; however, we can look forward to forever with him on the other side. Those that left before Chick include his parents, Henry Rains and Madeline Carroll Rains, brother Roy V. Rains, Sr., sister Hazel Rains Dawson, brother-in-law A.D. Dawson, sister Nancy Rains Payne, sister Carol Rains Anson, brother Karl Rains, nephew Jeff Rains, nephew Jeff Harrison, nephew Ryan Anson, niece Kathy Dawson and granddaughter Sydney Rose Rains. He is survived by a large and loving family: son William V. (Bill) Rains and wife Paula, grandchildren Samantha Rains, Conor Rains, Caelan Rains and Sage Rains, son Cole Haydn Martinez Rains and fiancée Eileen, nephew Alan (Dice) Dawson, niece M'liss Dawson Jenkins and husband Carl, nephew Roy V. Rains, Jr., nephew Eric Rains and wife Heather, great nieces: Sarah Callison, Amber Sikes Chase, Ashley Sikes, Amy Jenkins Grace, and Laurel Rains. Great nephews: Adam Jenkins, Van Harrison, Max Harrison, Gage Rains and Roy V. Rains, III. Great great nieces and nephews: Kai, Kaelynn, Coleman, Kennedy, Dennis, Cooper, Ashden, London, Guthrie, Golden and Bijou. Last, but not least, many special cousins and friends who are like family including Linda Rains Kashiwamura, Scottie Schneider, Rose Linda Martinez, and Shannan Rains. A memorial service for Chick will be held Saturday March 5, 2022 at the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame. Time to be announced.