Eugene “Gene” Homesley, 88, a former Parsons resident, died Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2010, at a care home in Lubbock, Texas.

He was born Nov. 1, 1921, in rural Elkins, Ark., to Dennis H. and Addie (Foster) Homesley.

Mr. Homesley worked at the Kansas Ordinance Plant in Parsons in the early 1950s.

On July 24, 1954, he married Rita Faye Paine of St. Paul at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Parsons. For nine years, she was the personal secretary for Clyde M. Reed, Jr., editor and publisher of the Parsons Sun. She preceded him in death on Sept. 11, 2008, after a 12 year illness with Alzheimer’s disease.

Mr. Homesley served in the U.S. Army in England during World War II. Most of his life was spent in Brownfield, Texas, where he was a lease operator for Amoco, the former Stanolind Oil Co.

He is survived by two sons, Greg Homesley and his wife, Kimberly, of Lubbock, and Glenn Homesley, Peoria, Ariz.; three grandchildren, Rachel Homesley, Lubbock, Christopher Ray, Baltimore, Md., and Ryan Ray, Lamesa, Texas; and three sisters, Marie Smith and Wilma Weathers, both of Tulsa, and Betty Culwell of Houston.

He was preceded in death by a brother, John H. Homesley; and his parents.

The service will be at 2 p.m. Friday at Resthaven Funeral Chapel in Lubbock. Burial will be in Resthaven Memorial Park at Lubbock.