Gene Cody Smith, 80, of Beaumont, died Thursday, September 22, 2011, at Christus Hospital St. Elizabeth in Beaumont.

He was born March 20, 1931, in Perkinston, Mississippi, to Gussie Dale Smith and Albert Otho Smith; and had been a resident of Beaumont for thirty-one years.  Mr. Smith was retired from the United States Government and was a United States Army veteran having served in the Korean War.  He was a 32nd Degree Mason and a Shriner.

Mr. Smith led a full and fulfilling life having traveled extensively serving his family and country throughout the world including Korea, Vietnam, Lebanon, Congo, Liberia, Colombia and the United States of America.

He was known and cherished to be a kind, sweet and gentle soul who made everyone he met feel special.  Mr. Smith lived his life with honor and purpose.  He was a good and humble man that was dearly loved.

Survivors include his wife, Betty Smith of Beaumont; sons, Dale Russell Smith and his wife, Adria of San Diego, California, Dr. Gregory T. Kunz and Kevin D. Kunz both of Beaumont; daughters, Kathryn Smith Coffman and her husband, Homer of Hattiesburg, Mississippi and Rebecca Lynn Smith of St. Petersburg, Florida; grandchildren, Justin Coffman and his wife Alyson, Benjamin Coffman, Giselle Smith and Cooper Gene Smith; Gene was one of fourteen siblings, those surviving him are his sisters, Juanice Jackson of Bond, Mississippi, Anne Miller of Gulfport, Mississippi, June Trehern of Pascagoula, Mississippi, Daisy Davis, Ruby Smith and Grey Gray all of  Perkinston, Mississippi; and his brothers, John Haley Smith of Perkinston, Mississippi and Dennis Smith of Lumberton, Mississippi.

A gathering of his family and friends will be from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. Friday, September 23, 2011, at Broussard’s, 1605 North Major Drive, Beaumont.

His funeral service will be 1:00 p.m. Sunday, September 25, 2011, at Moore Funeral Home, 1115 West College Avenue, Wiggins, Mississippi with a graveside service to follow at 2:00 p.m. at Smith Cemetery, Lumberton, Mississippi.  A gathering of his family and friends will be from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. Saturday, September 24, 2011, at Moore Funeral Home.

Memorial contributions may be made to Wounded Warrior Project, 4899 Belfort Road, Suite 300, Jacksonville, Florida 32256, or online at www.woundedwarriorproject.org; or to Humane Society of Southeast Texas, P.O. Box 1629, Beaumont, Texas 77704.