Gene C. Boatright, age 86, of Marion, IL passed away at 3:50 p.m., with his family by his side, on Saturday, February 27, 2010, at his home.
He was born on August 20, 1923, in Harrisburg, IL the son of Walter and Sally (Cannon) Boatright.
He attended school in Harrisburg and was a graduate of Harrisburg High School in 1941, and later attended college in Evansville, IN.
In the early 1940’s, before Pearl Harbor, Gene was working for the railroad and decided to enlist into the United States Army but due to an earlier hand injury was not accepted. Shortly after not being accepted into the army he enlisted into the Merchant Marines and for the next several years traveling all over the world taking supplies that would especially benefit the military.
Once will home on leave in Harrisburg from the Merchant Marines, he met a young woman named Phyllis Joy Boswell and it was then they fell in love. He returned back to duty and was gone for about nine months. Gene and Joy were united in marriage on July 27, 1946, in Harrisburg, IL and together they have shared the last sixty four years of marriage.
After his discharge from the Merchant Marines and his marriage the young couple moved to Peoria, IL and he began working for Caterpillar in their machine shop. After several years they returned back to Southern Illinois, to the Stonefort area, and he began working as a coal miner and also operated a beef and hog farm. After the mine shut down, Gene began working for the Olin Corporation near Marion and after several years of carpooling to work from Stonefort to Marion, he and Joy decided to move their family to Marion in 1970. After twenty three years of working for Olin he decided to retire in the mid to late 1980’s.
He has been an active member of Aldersgate United Methodist Church of Marion, since 1970. Some of his other lifetime affiliations included him serving on the Carrier Mills-Stonefort Township School Board during the 1960’s and 70’s. While working at Olin he was actively involved in the union and served as union secretary.
He also was a supporter of the American Red Cross continually donating blood when he could.
In his spare time he found enjoyment in fishing, dancing, doing word puzzles, was an avid Cardinal baseball fan and after retirement traveling, especially to Florida to the Anna Maria Island area located near Sarasota and staying several months at a time. He also enjoyed going to the Marion Senior Citizen’s Center spending time by sharing a meal and visiting with his many friends.
He loved his family always taking interests in their many activities and enjoyed the times they spent together and cherished the many memories that were created.
He is survived by his wife, Phyllis Joy Boatright of Marion, IL; daughter, Susan Fosse of Marion, IL; three sons and two daughters-in-law, Walter Boatright of Herrin, IL, Monty and Maria Boatright of Chicago, IL and Todd and Susan Boatright of Herrin, IL; seven grandchildren, Adam Fosse and his wife, Amy and Eric Fosse and Joshuah, Jeremy, Sarah, Megan and Mia Boatright; cousin, Betty Boatright of Marion, IL, other extended family and many friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters, Edrie Harris and Louise Boatright and two brothers, Homer and Herman Boatright.
Arrangements for Gene C. Boatright have been entrusted to the Wilson-McReynolds Funeral Home, 900 N. Court Street, of Marion, IL.
In accordance to his wishes there will not be any public services scheduled and the family will hold a private memorial service at a later date.
For those who would like to make a memorial contribution to a organization in his memory the family has requested contributions made to “Aldersgate United Methodist Church”, “Hospice of Southern Illinois” or “The Marion Senior Citizens Center”. Memorial contribution envelopes will be available at the funeral home or may be mailed in care of Wilson-McReynolds Funeral Home, P.O. Box 370, Marion, IL 62959.
For additional information please contact the funeral home by calling 618-993-2131.
