Eugene Chamness

Born in Herrin, Illinois on Oct. 4, 1922, he moved to Oneco, FL when he was 2 years old and attended Oneco School. He joined the Army at 18 and was stationed in Hawaii during WW II. When the war was over he worked as a civilian for the Navy as a machinist at Pearl Harbor. Here he met the love of his life, Catherine Ferreira. They were married in 1946, and had a son, Richard Eugene, in 1949. He and his family moved to Bradenton in 1950, and started work as a journeyman plumber and later worked for Scott Cole Plumbing, in Bradenton. He was known as Gene the Machine, to his fellow co-workers. He became a homebuilder building his own home and then developing Chamness Park in 1971. He and his son started Manasota Plumbing and Hardware Supply in 1975. He was a longtime member of the Moose Lodge 1223, and the Bradenton Lions Club for 25 years. He was a member of Manatee Baptist Church.

Survivors include his only child Richard Chamness (Kathy Walker), of Bradenton; grandson, Brian Chamness; 3 great-grandchildren, Emily, Isabelle, and Alexis, also of Bradenton.

Memorial contributions may be made in lieu of flowers to the Bradenton Lions Club.

The family will receive friends from 6-8pm, Wednesday, March 30, 2016, at Manasota Funeral Home.

A funeral service will be conducted at 10am on Thursday at the funeral home. Interment will follow in Manasota Memorial Park.

Condolences may be made to the family at ManasotaMemorial.com.