Gene Lloyd Juneau, 80, passed away peacefully on September 16, 2015, after lengthy but brave battle with Alzheimer's. He was born on November 19, 1934, in Marksville, Louisiana, to Fredna and Ferdinand Juneau. Gene was the youngest of three children. His brother Earl and sister Ethel helped their mother raise him after their father was killed in an automobile accident shortly after Gene turned four years of age. It was often joked about that everyone worked extra jobs to make sure that "Pap" had everything he wanted.
Gene excelled in sports and was the star of the Marksville Tigers football team, receiving a scholarship to Louisiana State University. After a short stint at LSU he realized that he would not be able to afford the daily living expenses without working full time, and would not be able to attend all the needed classes to meet the scholarship requirements if he did work full time. He soon enlisted in the United States Marine Corps traveling the United States coast line. He use to joke that his battle wounds were the sun spots he got on his back laying on the beaches in Miami! After his discharge he moved to Port Arthur with his sister and brother-in-law and was soon offered jobs at both Gulf Oil and Texaco, choosing Gulf Oil in the end. He attended night classes at the Port Arthur College and soon went to work in the accounting department. Gene enjoyed a long a prosperous career with Gulf Oil and Chevron Corporation that lasted over forty years. He loved Gulf Oil, bleeding blue and orange and loved reminiscing about his time at "The Gulf".
On December 18, 1956, Gene married Bonnie Oster of Port Arthur at St. Catherine of Siena Church. They raised two daughters, giving them a truly wonderful and happy childhood. After the girls were gone they had the chance to raise their grandson Shawn. Again they provided Shawn with a storybook childhood and actively participated in any school function or extra-curricular activity. In his later years, Gene took the same great pride and interest in his two granddaughters’ education and making sure they were prepared for success.
Gene is survived by his wife of fifty-nine years, Bonnie of Port Neches; grandson, that he raised as his son, Shawn Sparrow and his wife, Jennifer, of Beaumont; daughters, Debbie Dykes and her husband, Ronnie, of Burkeville and Kim Welch and her husband, Ron, of Dallas; granddaughters, Meagan Dykes and Katherine Welch, both of Dallas; great-granddaughter, Ella of Beaumont; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Earl Juneau; and sister, Ethel Davis.
A Christian Vigil for Mr. Juneau will be 5:00 p.m., with a gathering of his family and friends to follow until 8:00 p.m., Sunday, September 20, 2015, at Broussard’s, 505 North 12th Street, Nederland. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 10:00 a.m., Monday, September 21, 2015, at St. Anthony Cathedral Basilica, 700 Jefferson, Beaumont, with entombment to follow at Oak Bluff Memorial Park, Port Neches.
