Some believe that had it not taken so long for help to arrive, Cassie Gaines may have survived. Both brother and sister were killed in the airplane crash that also took the life of Lynyrd Skynyrd vocalist Ronnie Van Zant. Dean Kilpatrick, the bands manager, lay dead and covered in blood. Resend Activation Email. ). Miamians Steve and Cassie Gaines were musicians and singers for the legendary rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd. Ketia Daniel, founder of BHM Cleaning Co., is BestReviews cleaning expert. I spoke with Judy Van Zant by phone on Friday, and she gave me the following explanation why she and her daughter, Melody, made this decision. Previously sponsored memorials or famous memorials will not have this option. Vince Neils Daughter Inspired More Than Just A Song, Rudy Sarzos Tragic Detailing of Randy Rhoads Plane Crash, The 10 Best Bob Dylan Songs That Defined His Career. She was visiting the cemetery where her son and daughter were buried. Oops, some error occurred while uploading your photo(s). Resend Activation Email, Please check the I'm not a robot checkbox, If you want to be a Photo Volunteer you must enter a ZIP Code or select your location on the map. References [ edit] Among them were Lacy Van Zant, Ronnies Father, and .38 Specials Guitarist Dan Barnes. On February 15, 1979, the mother of Steve and Cassie, also named Cassie LaRue Gaines, was killed in an automobile accident near the cemetery where Steve and Cassie are buried. The guitarist's friends were shocked when his plane went down less than two years later. ). He obtained his first guitar at about age 14. Please contact Find a Grave at [emailprotected] if you need help resetting your password. Deceased people hanging from trees, the other survivors moaning for help of any kind, and completely surrounded by a black swamp whose canopy is blocking the only light that is trying so desperately to shine through. Sadly, just a few months later, their mother, LaRue Gaines, would also die a tragic death. He had already finished a film about the plane crash when Gary and several others stepped in and placed a lawsuit against the film to not be shown to the public. After his and Van Zants graves were damaged by vandals in 2000, Gaines family reportedly removed his ashes to a private location.