Gene Lassiter

Gene was born September 12, 1928 in Rockport, Texas to Walter and Katie Lassiter. Gene spent his formative years in Rockport and was an all around athlete for the Rockport Pirates. After graduating from high school, Gene worked on a seismograph crew, traveling the state of Texas being the “dynamite man” on the seismic crew. It was during these travels that he met the love of his life, Hazel Glaze, in Seymour, Texas. Their romance blossomed, but was put on hold in 1950 when Gene was drafted into the Army during the Korean War. After being discharged in 1952, the romance renewed and the couple was married December 24, 1952. They began family life in Corpus Christi, Texas in early 1953.

Gene worked for Allstate Insurance Company where he had a very successful career as a sales agent, retiring as a Senior Sales Agent in 1990. He was an avid outdoorsman. In the fall and winter, you knew you could find him at his ranch in Duval County or at a deer lease. In spring and summer, he frequented the local bays and the Laguna Madre, usually at his fishing cabin on the north end of Baffin Bay. He began his retirement “career” enjoying fishing and hunting during the week while the rest of “us” were at work. He continued hunting and fishing until the very end.

Gene was preceded in death by son-in-law Bill Butler and very special granddaughter, Katie Ockerman. He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Hazel, and his children Anita Butler, Jill and Roger Brodnax, Georgia Ockerman, and Allen and Mariella Lassiter. He is also survived by two sisters, Shirley Conrad and Joyce Jones of Rockport, and numerous nieces and nephews. Gene was, and will always be, “Papa” to his 10 grandchildren and one great-grandchild. His surviving grandchildren include Jennifer, Michael, and Rachel Butler of Orange Park, Florida; Chase and Dustin (Dusty) Brodnax of Corpus Christi; Jacob, Joel, and Emily Ockerman of San Antonio; Andrew Lassiter of Corpus Christi; and great-granddaughter Kaley Miller of Orange Park, Florida.

The funeral service will be held at Memory Gardens Funeral Home in Corpus Christi at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 21, 2011 with graveside service to follow. Pallbearers will be Gene’s grandsons: Michael Butler, Chase and Dusty Brodnax, Jacob and Joel Ockerman, and Andrew Lassiter. Honorary pallbearers will be Les Glaze, Stan Shelby, John Spencer Habeeb, Jim and Will Jacob, Frank and Isaac Cortez, Wayne Pierce, Rick and Kirk Nix, and Steve Arthur.

Special thanks to Dr. Ron Bowen, Dr. Beverly Held and staff, and the E.R. and Neurological nursing staff at Christus Spohn Shoreline.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to one of the following charities in honor of Gene Lassiter: American Cancer Society, Coastal Conservation Association, or Ducks Unlimited.