A final salute to sheriff Jerry ‘Peanuts’ Gaines at Tuesday funeral

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (WNKY) – Family, friends and fellow law enforcement officers filled Hillvue Heights Church on Tuesday morning to remember the life and legacy of sheriff Jerry “Peanuts” Gaines, a man whose name became a cornerstone of Warren County’s history.

Born in Bowling Green on June 28, 1937, Gaines served his country as a military policeman in the U.S. Army before beginning a lifetime of public service that spanned more than four decades. Gaines was first elected Warren County sheriff in 1978, serving until 1982 and again from 1987 to 2018, a total of 41 years in office. That made him the longest-serving sheriff in both Warren County and Kentucky history.

Over his career, Gaines became one of the most recognizable public servants in the state. He served as a five-time president of the Kentucky Sheriffs’ Association, National Sheriff of the Year in 1995, president of the National Sheriffs’ Association from 2000 to 2001 and the only sheriff ever to serve as president of the Kentucky Association of Counties, in 2014. He was also a founding member of the Kentucky Sheriffs’ Association Boys & Girls Ranch.

At Tuesday’s service, attendees shared laughter, tears and stories that reflected a man who was as larger-than-life as he was deeply devoted to his community.

“Some of these jobs are as big or small as you choose to make it,” said Warren Circuit Judge Chris Cohron. “And Peanuts made the job as sheriff of Warren County as big as humanly possible. He was truly a force not only throughout the region, but throughout the state and throughout the nation.”

Cohron said Gaines’ energy and confidence were unforgettable.

“Anytime I think of Peanuts, I always think he was like a hurricane,” Cohron said. “He would come in no matter what the situation was, always very sure of himself, always very confident of whatever he was trying to implement. But most importantly, he truly cared about the citizens of Warren County.”

Former Warren County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Bill Stephens said Gaines’ leadership shaped generations of law enforcement officers.

“He’s had a long and wonderful life,” Stephens said. “He was the sheriff for Warren County for close to 40 years, and he brought the agency ahead as the years went by.”

Stephens said Gaines wasn’t just a lawman, he was a neighbor and a friend.

“He was a protector for the county, but he was also a servant because he served all those years,” Stephens said. “He was a good church member here at Hillvue. He’s done well in his life.”

Under Gaines’ leadership, the sheriff’s office earned national exposure. “He got us national recognition,” Stephens added. “We were on Live PD for several months back in 2017, and that helped move us ahead and get to the next step we needed to be.”

Among those paying respects Tuesday was U.S. Congressman Brett Guthrie, who said Gaines’ reputation reached far beyond Warren County, even into the halls of Washington, D.C.

“I always told people that if Peanuts Gaines played himself on Saturday Night Live, everybody would say, ‘No Southern sheriff is really like that,’” Guthrie said. “But he was unique. He was original.”

Guthrie recalled how Gaines’ name came up in surprising places. “When I first met Joe Biden, who was then vice president, he said, ‘You must know my good friend Peanuts Gaines,’” Guthrie said. “The same thing happened with then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. They both knew him. That’s how well-known he was.”

But for Guthrie, it wasn’t the national attention that stood out, it was Gaines’ heart. “When my mom passed away, we were on Lovers Lane traffic and there was the sheriff, out there directing traffic himself for my mother’s funeral,” Guthrie said. “That will always touch me.”

He added that Gaines’ compassion went hand in hand with his leadership. “He just ran a top-notch sheriff’s department,” Guthrie said. “He made sure people followed the law, but he also took care of people. His heart was always in the right place. He was a legendary figure that touched my family, and I’m here to show respect for him and his family.”

At around 1:14 Tuesday afternoon, the final call for Sheriff Gaines rang out on the police scanners in Warren County:

“County, 401
County, 401
County , 401

Final call for SHERIFF JERRY ” PEANUT ” GAINES WARREN COUNTY SHERIFF for nearly 40 years.
SHERIFF GAINES was the longest serving SHERIFF in WARREN COUNTY, and the longest serving SHERIFF in KENTUCKY history.
SHERIFF GAINES will always be remembered for his willingness to help others. and his unwavering service to our community, and his larger than life personality.
SHERIFF GAINES undoubtedly left his mark on this community, and his Legacy will live on in the hearts of all that knew and loved him Forever and Always.

Rest easy SHERIFF, your Brothers and Sisters will take it from here.

THIS IS THE FINAL CALL FOR SHERIFF JERRY “PEANUTS” GAINES at 13:14 Hours.”

Gaines was 88 years old. He was laid to rest Tuesday afternoon at Fairview Cemetery in Bowling Green.