Let me preface this by saying that I do not feel that I can possibly do justice to Gene’s memory, but I am compelled to try…
Gene Little was a true child of the Sixties, dreamer, Southern gentleman, scholar and extraordinary human being. Gene was unique; he didn’t want to be like everyone else. He always wanted to do things in a different way. He liked to travel different routes to a destination and preferred not go down the same roads. He enjoyed learning how to do new things. One time he even spent months changing and perfecting his handwriting to an Italics style. Although he explored new ways and ideas, he also honored and appreciated heritage and tradition. He could be found reading about math, computers, science, engineering, philosophy, cars, fountain pens, cooking and the list goes on. Gene could also see an issue from different perspectives and he relished in playing the devil’s advocate. Gene also loved to play. Chess was his passion. He preferred to play chess with a real live person, and he was never really satisfied playing chess on the computer. Scrabble, board games, table tennis, basketball, bicycling, badmitton, motorcycling, swimming, horseshoes and card games were some of the things that he would try to get you to join him to do. Entertainment might even be the latest magic trick that he had learned how to perform. Gene also loved music. His mother was a music teacher and Gene grew up in a house filled with music, mainly classical. Borrowing from the phrase from Beatles to Bach, Gene enjoyed everything from Elvis Pressley to Pachelbel. Gene had a terrific sense of humor and wit. Basically Gene enjoyed a good time and sharing a humorous story or joke. As a baby boomer and child of the Sixties, Gene had a sense of wonder about him. Gene would get excited about something he had just heard or learned, and soon you would be sharing his joy. He said that we could make our own rules and decide how we wanted to live. And so we did. He was a sensitive, considerate, and thoughtful man and also one of the most generous persons I have known. Gene had a way of making things seem special. And then, there are all of the babies! He shared his heart with several four legged canine bundles of fur and love. Gene was a real person and not a saint. That said, even the days that did not go so well were worth enduring, and I would not trade a day I shared with him.
Thank you for indulging me. Please share your remembrances of Gene here.
Christmas was always a magical time. Gene had to be the all time best at choosing the most perfect gift. Gene had a unique way of being able to pick out the most special gift. And when you received this gift, you knew that Gene had thought about you when he chose it. And it, and he made you feel so special. It was just his way. I try this day to be mindful of this when trying to select items for others, but I fear that I will never be able to match Gene in this regard.
I met Gene in the late 1960's at Meridian Junior College. I liked him immediately, partly because of his uniqueness. He was an interesting conversationalist and always a fountain of information on virtually any subject. He was very private and floored me one day when I came into the student paper office and he was burning something in a small metal container. When I questioned him, he said it was old pictures the paper had that he was in and he didn't like old pictures! I told him not to do that, and he never did again, or he did such a good job that I never caught on to what he was doing! I think my Daddy reminded him of his, and he was always interested in what my Dad was doing. I talked to him on the phone when I was moving in the early 1980's, after I got out of the Army. I intended to come over and visit (I was living in Mississippi by then), but in the move I lost his address, and was never able to contact him again. I thought when I retired I would find him again, but he had passed before I retired. Gene was one unique and extraordinarily interesting person. Glad to know from these comments that his later life was filled with love.
The first time I met Gene, I knew that he was a person that I would enjoy being around. I enjoyed the many times that Gene and Carolyn would attend my birthday parties and other family and friend gatherings, which involved a lot of food and spirits. Gene, would often say " don't invite him if I did not want him to come" because he would show up. My family enjoyed talking and laughing with Gene. You will always be a part of my family.
Raymond
