Eugene Nathaniel Avants, 76, of Marlow died Saturday, Aug. 28, 2010, at his home.
Services are planned for Tuesday, Aug. 31, at 1 p.m. at the Alex Church of Christ, with Dewayne Spradlin and Billy Adcox officiating. Burial will follow in the Rush Springs Cemetery under the direction of Callaway-Smith-Cobb Funeral Home in Marlow.
Gene was born Thursday, Sept. 21, 1933, in Amber to Eugene Victor and Ruth (Casey) Avants. He lived most of his life in the Marlow area. He graduated from Eakley High School and attended Southwestern Oklahoma State University in Weatherford. Gene married the former Leta Frances Parish on May 28, 1983, in Phoenix, Ariz. He went to work for the Soil Conservation Service in 1959 in the Marlow area, then worked for the ASCS in the Coconino National Forest in northern Arizona until his retirement in 1985. He was a volunteer for the American Cancer Society for the past 15 years. Gene enjoyed farming, riding horses, playing guitar and singing. He also enjoyed cooking in his chuckwagon and making cobblers. Gene loved spending time with his family and going to the grandkids’ ballgames. He was a member of the Church of Christ in Alex.
Gene was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Oscar Avants.
Survivors include his wife, Leta Avants, of the home; a son, Kelsey Avants of Marlow; two daughters and sons-in-law, Lesa and Barry Foster of Cache, and Tamra and Lyndall Martin of Frisco, Texas; eight grandchildren, Karley Avants, Skye Foster-Wortham, Kealey Avants, Stormi Foster, Meredith Martin, Summer Foster, Jared Martin and Kyle Foster; a great-grandson, Avery Foster; two brothers and sisters-in-law, Lon and Marilyn Avants of Rush Springs, and Joe and Carol Avants of Noel, Mo.; a sister-in-law, Kaye Avants of Rush Springs; and numerous nephews, nieces and cousins.
Pallbearers are Barry Foster, Lyndall Martin, T. J. Archer, Jared Martin, Blue Mackey, Caleb Wortham and Kyle Foster.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.callawaysmithcobb.com.