Location: W-Drahn

Born: April 13, 1929 Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, Ohio

Died: January 20, 2009 McLennan County, Texas

Spouse:
Mary E Kekic (1932 – 2004)

Eugene R. Kekic, 79, of China Spring, passed away Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2009.

Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 24, at Lake Shore Funeral Home Chapel with burial to follow at China Spring Cemetery. Visitation will be 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, at Lake Shore Funeral Home.

Gene was born in Cleveland, Ohio. He was part of the Greatest Generation serving in the U.S. Army in the Pacific Theater. He loved stock car racing, ice hockey and tinkering with any small engine. He lived most of his life in Cleveland but moved to China Spring in 1980. He worked as a grounds-keeper and tree surgeon for Baylor University and the City of Waco Parks and Recreation Department until retirement in January of 2005. He was a member of the Amvets of Waco, VFW of Waco and J.H. Gurley Masonic Lodge of Waco.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 48 years, Mary.

Gene is survived by sons, Norman Kekic, of Brookpark, Ohio, and William Baum and wife, Annie, of Berea, Ohio; daughters, Deborah Chavez and husband, Ernie, of Round Rock, and Sharon Conry and husband, Tom, of China Spring; grandchildren, Brandy Makovy and husband, Chris, of Hutto, Texas, Kelly Ultis and husband, Mathew, of Houston, Kate Normand and husband, Martin, of Spring, Texas, David Conry and wife, Candice, of Tomball, Texas, Carrie Glending and husband, Michael, of Avon, Ohio, Jeff Kekic and wife, Mandy, of Brunswick, Ohio, Norman Kekic Jr., of Brunswick, Ohio, Jennifer Cogan and husband, David, of Wesley Chapel, Fla., Allison Woodward and husband, Charley, of Lakewood, Ohio, and Aimee Anzalone and husband, Jeff, of Wesley Chapel, Fla.; numerous great-grandchildren; and sisters, Virginia Harrison and Carol Marchione, both of Florida.