Wendell “Gene” E. Laffoon

Wendell Eugene Laffoon, son of Andrew and Violet Hecox Laffoon, was born February 20, 1929, in Yellville, Arkansas. He departed this life Sunday, September 11, 2016, in Lebanon North Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, in Lebanon, Missouri, at the age of eighty-seven years, six months, and twenty-one days.

On October 18, 1953, he was united in marriage to Mekey V. Shuman, and to this union two daughters and three sons were born.
He was preceded in death by his parents; an infant son, John Michael Laffoon; and two brothers, Howard and Robert Laffoon.

“Gene”, as he was called by his family and friends, is survived by his loving wife, of sixty-two years, Mekey, of the home; a daughter, Carol Murphy, of Springfield, Missouri; two sons, Monty Laffoon, and his wife, Brenda, of Tuscumbia, Missouri, and Tim Laffoon, of Carthage, Illinois; four grandchildren, Casie, Miranda, Josh, and Amanda; a number of great-grandchildren; a brother, Leonard Laffoon, and his wife, Betty, of Milan, Illinois; two sisters-in-law, Deloris Laffoon, of Kahoka, Missouri, and Lula Bell Laffoon, of Wayland, Missouri; several nieces and nephews; as well as a host of other relatives and friends.

He was born and raised in Yellville, Arkansas. He then entered the United States Army as a young man and served in Germany and Austria from 1951 until his honorable discharge in 1953. He studied at a Barber’s College and earned his Barber’s License. He and Mekey moved to Illinois, where they made their home and lovingly raised their family. Gene worked as a barber for several years. In 1976, the family moved to Northeast Missouri and Gene began working as a millwright in the construction business, he continued in that endeavor until retiring. He and Mekey moved to Lebanon, Missouri in 2005.

He was an active member of the V.F.W. and American Legion in Quincy, Illinois. Music was always a major part of his life and he enjoyed playing both country and gospel music. He played in a group for eighteen years, and also could be a one-man-band. Through the years, he had made several recordings and C.D.’s. He was a very friendly man who never met a stranger. He enjoyed being with his friends and was comfortable in social settings. His family was very important to him and he enjoyed spending time with them.

Gene was a loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, uncle, and was a caring neighbor and friend. We celebrate his life and his accomplishments and know that his family and friends will treasure the wonderful memories he made for them during his eighty-seven years.

Funeral Services are Wednesday, September 14, 2016 at 11:00 AM at Holman-Howe Funeral Home Lebanon 320 S. Adams Ave Lebanon, MO, 65536.