01:00 AM EST on Tuesday, January 13, 2004

JOHN M. GOMES, 97, formerly of South Locust Ave., a retired railroad worker, died yesterday at Evergreen House Health Center, East Providence.

He was the husband of Velma (Barbosa) Gomes. Born in Brava, Cape Verde Islands, a son of the late Manuel and Mariana (Reis) Gomes, he had lived in the Riverside section of East Providence before moving to North Providence, where he had lived for 15 years.

Mr. Gomes had been a railroad worker for the Pacific Railroad, in California, before retiring 30 years ago.

Besides his wife, he leaves two daughters, Cindy Gomes of Cambridge, Mass., and Olga Downes of Warwick; three sons, William Gomes of Sacramento, Calif., John Gomes of Rehoboth and David Gomes of Hanover, Mass.; and three grandchildren. He was the father of the late Elizabeth Fidyk.

The funeral will be held Thursday at 10 a.m. in the Perry-McStay Funeral Home, 2555 Pawtucket Ave., East Providence. Burial will be in Swan Point Cemetery, Providence.