Lloyd Eugene “Gene” McGee, Jr., age 70, of Blue Mound, Kansas passed away Thursday, March 18, 2021. Gene was born in Kansas City, Missouri on July 2, 1950, the eldest of seven children to Lloyd Eugene and Mary Ellen Wilhite McGee.
During Gene’s early teen-years, he began to attend the YMCA where he met Mr. Rodgers, who became a father-figure to him: taught him about how to work on cars, how to play the guitar, and helped set him on a path towards a great love for The United States of America. At the age of seventeen, Gene enlisted into the United States Marine Corps, where he proudly served his country for twenty-four years, including time in Vietnam and Operation Desert Storm.
Upon retirement, Gene was a mechanic, a prison guard, a sheriff’s deputy, and a cabinet maker. At the request of a friend, Gene entered the cab of a long-haul truck for a weekend, then retired from being a truck driver after twenty years of accident-free driving.
Gene enjoyed spending time with his family, bowling and baseball. Additionally, he loved camping, playing music and travelling “this beautiful country of ours.” Gene was a member of the American Legion.
Gene was united in marriage to Susan Lusk on April 9, 2019. He was preceded in death by his parents; oldest grandson, Joshua McGee; brother-in-law, Charles “Chuck” Trotter; and brother, Billy McGee. Gene is survived by his wife, Susan; a daughter, Angela Lesher McGee; a son, Brian (April) McGee; grandsons, Jacob and Stephen McGee; sisters Martha, Debbie and Cathy; brother, Bobby; many nieces, nephews, step-children and step-grandchildren; and ex-wife, LaDonna Trotter.
A graveside service at Fort Scott National Cemetery will be announced at a later date. Online condolences can be left at www.schneiderfunerals.com.