Gene Sherman

Emmett Eugene “Gene” Sherman, 86, of Fort Sumner died Wednesday, November 18, 2009 at Northwest Texas Medical Center in Amarillo following an illness. Gene was born December 22, 1922 in Williamson County, Texas to the home of Emmett Sherman and the former Lilla Mae Taylor. He was reared in Briggs, TX where he graduated from Briggs High School. Gene married Thelma Leona Bonnett in 1946 at Yuma, Arizona. They made their home in Fort Sumner in 1960. Gene worked many years as a truck driver including several years with Furr’s Foods. Gene was a member of the First Baptist Church in Fort Sumner. Following his retirement Gene spent hours each day in the Allsup’s parking lot visiting with his many friends and making new friends each day. He enjoyed visiting with the many Furr’s truck drivers who stopped by each day. He also enjoyed fishing and visiting with his friends at the Bosque Redondo Lake. Gene was a goodwill ambassador to everyone who visited Fort Sumner. Gene was preceded in death by his wife Leona Sherman on April 17, 1996; his parents; two sisters Frankie Sherman, Elizabeth Smith; two brothers Cecil Sherman and Aubrey Sherman. Survivors include two daughters Shirley Vandiver and husband Earl of Fort Sumner; Cindy McKinley and husband Jimmy of Tulia, TX; a brother bobby Sherman and wife Mary of Belton, TX; one sister Mary Davidson of Belton, TX; four granddaughters Lorie Gutierrez and husband Rascal of Silver City, NM; Leah Myers and husband Grante of Vega, TX; Mandy Skinner and husband Greg of Tulia, TX; and Molly McKinley of Tulia, TX; six great-grandchildren Tommy Gutierrez, Justin Gutierrez, Kodi Myers, Dylan Myers, Malerie Voyles and McKinley Harris along with many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 pm Saturday, November 21, 2009 from the Chavez Funeral Home Chapel in Fort Sumner with Rev. Jim Peabody officiating. Burial will follow in the family plot, Fort Sumner Cemetery. Pallbearers will be his grandsons Rascal Gutierrez, Tommy Gutierrez, Justin Gutierrez, Greg Skinner, Grante Myers, Kodi Myers and Dylan Myers. Honorary bearers will be all the many folks he visited with at Allsup’s. Arrangements are under the direction of Chavez Funeral Home in Fort Sumner. (575) 355-2311. To place an online tribute or sign the guest book please visit www.chavezfuneralhome.com