Leland Eugene was the names picked by his two oldest sisters. He was called Leegene for most of his childhood and whenever he ran into old acquaintances. He was born at home in Fountaintown, Indiana on May 18, 1931 and weighted over twelve pounds. It was the same day Al Capone went to prison. Gene always added that detail.

The best tribute to Gene is to share some of our favorite family stories.

For one of the family trips to Florida, Gene purchased a luggage rack with large suction cups for the car. Throughout the trip it became necessary to stop every couple of hours to readjust the luggage rack. Gene kept the car so clean and polished that there was no friction to hold the suction cups in place.

Gene loved gravy. Yolande did not know how to make gravy when they were first married, but learned how and one evening made liver gravy/ Liver was the only meat that Gene would not eat. He said it gave him goose bumps on the inside of his mouth. He also had a routine at the dinner table about making the gravy, mashed potatoes, and bread come out even. Often it would take several servings to get the "soppy" to come out even.

Gene loved to eat! He would, in the words of Grandma Liming, "eat so much, made him poor to carry it". He would grab cookies to eat on the way to the dinner table. Even when nothing else sounded good, he could always find room for pizza or a meatball sub.

Once, he ordered coconut cream pie to everyone's amazement. He hated coconut. When he took a bite of the pie he exclaimed, "This has coconut in it". Turns out he thought it would just be coconut flavored.

Gene was a great friend, a loving husband, and a wonderful father. He hated social events, but loved being around people (once he got there). His hobbies included studying the events and people of World War II; cars, planes, and trains (both models and the real thing); playing pool with his church buddies, fixing things, watching television, and napping.

He took his leave on Tuesday, January 27, 2004 after a sudden heart attack. After the disbelief passes, comes the sadness that he is gone, and finally the joy that he was part of our lives, and the reassurance that we will all be together one day.

"I thank my God when I remember you." Philippians 1:3.