Russell Eugene “Gene” Evans, age 87, of Warrensburg died Sunday, April 8, at Western Missouri Medical Center.Visitation will be held at Sweeney-Phillips & Holdren Funeral Home from 5:30 – 7 p.m. on Thursday, April 12. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. on Friday, April 13 at the First United Methodist Church with the Reverend Louie Lowe and Brother Charles Brant officiating.

Burial will follow in Warrensburg Memorial Gardens Cemetery. Pallbearers will be David Akeman, Greg Carter, Stuart Collins, Howard Evans, Roger Akeman, and W.C. Tuckwiller. Honorary pallbearers will be Don Coleman, Robert Evans, the men of the Aldersgate Sunday School Class FUMC, and the members of the Rusty Zipper Club.

Gene was born July 2, 1930, in rural Johnson County, the son of Russell and Marie (Sproat) Evans. He graduated from Leeton High School and served in the U.S. Navy before joining Phillips Petroleum Company in 1953. He retired after 32 years with Phillips having worked in Texas, Oklahoma, Illinois, Alabama and Florida. On June 5, 1960, Gene was united in marriage with Laura Sue Tuckwiller at the First United Methodist Church in Warrensburg. She survives of the home.

Gene was an active member of the First United Methodist Church, the Warrensburg Duplicate Bridge Club, the American Legion Matthews-Crawford Post 131, and enjoyed the fellowship of the Rusty Zipper Club.

He valued his family and especially the Friday night tradition of family dinner and card games. He was an avid bridge player, participating in a number of clubs.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by his sister, Shirley Akeman of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, her sons David (Kristene) Akeman and Roger (Betsy) Akeman; sister, Jackie Tuckwiller of Warrensburg, her daughters Carolyn Campbell and Diane (Stuart) Collins, as well as brother-in- law Charles (Carol) Tuckwiller of Marshall, sisters-in- law Ellie Carter of Warrensburg and Mary Peterman of Knob Noster, numerous other nieces, nephews, cousins and valued friends.

Memorial contributions are suggested to the First United Methodist Church Building Fund and can be left in care of the funeral home.