DENISON, Texas — Raymond Eugene “Gene” Auvigne, 85, of Denison, Texas, went home to be with our Lord and Savior Thursday, Dec. 8, 2011, at Homestead of Denison.

Mr. Auvigne was born Oct. 14, 1926, in Parsons the son of August Raymond and Delta Inez (Piper) Auvigne. He graduated from St. Patrick’s Catholic School in Parsons and Parsons Junior College. He then served our country proudly in the U.S. Navy and U.S. Army. Gene enlisted at age 17 and served four years in the Navy and then four months in the Army.

Gene married his first wife, Mary Ellen Steimel, and had six children with that union. Mary Ellen, his wife of 27 years, passed away in 1973. He later married the love of his life, Ann Nuttall, in 1976.

Gene retired after 44 years of service with Katy Railroad, working his way up from baggage clerk to yard master. He loved the Lord and was a member of St. Patrick Catholic Church and Chirp Group No. 2. Gene was a loving husband, father, grandfather and brother. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends.

Mr. Auvigne is survived by his beloved family, wife of 35 years, Ann Auvigne of Denison, Texas; children, LeAnn Johnson and her husband, Ron, of Willard, Mo., Richard Auvigne and his wife, Sherri, of Parsons, Carol Jean Gregory and her husband, Carter, of Aransas Pass, Texas, Linda Dobbs and her husband, Ken, of Plano, Texas, Susan Williams and her husband, Brent, of Rowlett, Texas, Jule Ake and her husband, Ricky, of Sherman, Texas; stepchildren, Billy Nuttall of Del Valle, Texas, Lynne Anderson and her husband, Troy, of Springfield, Mo., and Leonard Nuttall of Overton, Texas; 14 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; six stepgrandchildren; eight stepgreat-grandchildren; a brother, Kendal Auvigne and his wife, Cori, of Kelso, Wash.; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

Gene was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Phyllis Marie Steimel; his first spouse, Mary Ellen Auvigne; and numerous aunts and uncles.

Funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Parsons with the Rev. Jason W. Borkenhagen officiating. Burial will follow in Mount Olivet Cemetery. The rosary will be prayed at 4 p.m. Sunday at Fisher Funeral Chapel in Denison. Deacon Gary Vogel will be officiating and a family visitation will follow rosary.

Pallbearers will be his beloved grandsons.

Memorials may be made in his name to St. Patrick Catholic Church, 314 North Rusk Ave, Denison, TX 75020.

Arrangements are under the direction of Fisher Funeral Home in Denison.

Online condolences may be left at www.fisherfh.com.