Eugene Wesley Dickey, Jr. (Gene) met his Lord and Savior on March 21, 2024 at the age of 81.
He was born to Eugene Wesley and Margaret (Bills) Dickey, Sr. on June 5, 1942 in Fairfield, Alabama.
Gene grew up in Ensley, Alabama where he graduated from Ensley High school. After high school, Gene attended Belhaven University where he played varsity tennis and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration.
After graduation, Gene worked in sales for International Harvester while also serving six years in the U.S. Army Reserve as a Supply Sergeant. On January 31, 1970, he married the love of his life, Shirley Bush in Jackson, Mississippi. This marriage was blessed with two sons, Wesley and Brian. Gene later transferred to Plano, Texas to raise his family while he worked as a national sales rep for Warner Electric. He retired after 30 years with the company.
While raising his family, Gene was an avid college sports fan, primarily rooting on The University of Alabama and Texas Tech. One of the highlights of Gene’s life was to regularly visit his sons at Texas Tech University to enjoy live sporting events with them. Outside of his love of the game, Gene was also a huge boat enthusiast. Gene shared his boating passion by teaching others to water ski and hosting lake events. Both of Gene’s sons own boats today and keep their boats to the Gene Dickey standard of cleanliness.
Gene was a man of God. His faith was unshakable and his devotion to helping others or speaking truth was heard until the day he passed. He served as a Deacon for Legacy Drive Baptist Church in Plano, Texas and chaperoned many youth ski trips, both snow and water. Later, Gene and Shirley attended Prestonwood Baptist Church where he volunteered in a number of ministries including helping the unemployed.
Eugene is survived by his wife after 54 years of marriage, Shirley Dickey of Fairview, Texas; two sons, Wesley (Kristi) Dickey of Rowlett, Texas, and Brian (Melanie) Dickey of Prosper, Texas; six grandchildren, Riley Maupin, Carson Dickey, Matthew and Jonathan McCarthy, and Peyton and Karli Dickey.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Eugene Dickey, Sr., and Margaret (Bills) Dickey, and daughter-in-law, Shannon (O’Fallon) Dickey.
A graveside service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Thursday, March 28, 2024 at Ridgeview Memorial Park in Allen, Texas. The family will receive guests for a visitation one hour prior to the service at Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow Funeral Home.
The family would like to thank the following caregivers and homes:
Golden Grace Respite Care
Judy Arvy
Tribute Assisted Living/Memory Care
Dominant House Residence
Kindful Hospice Team
Lastly, the family requests any donations to be directed to the following organizations in memory of Gene.