Gene Autry Niven

16, 2021. He was preceded in death by his parents, Joe and Georgia Howard Niven. Gene is

survived by his wife, Betty June Niven; his son, Norry Niven and his wife, Melissa, his

grandchildren, McLain and Zettie all of Dallas; Texas; his older brother, James Niven and his

wife Alice of Austin, Texas, and his sister-in-law, Patricia Wood of Center, Texas.

Gene earned his BBA degree after attending The University of Texas in Austin and Texas State

University, where he played college football. It was during his college years that he met his wife

of almost 62 years, June. She describes their meeting as love at first sight. They have been

blissfully married since March 27, 1959.

The Niven family moved to Arlington, Texas, in 1968 where Gene was employed by Procter &

Gamble’s sales division. Gene, working as a senior consultant, had a lengthy and loyal career

with Procter & Gamble for 42 years. During this time, he also established Metroplex Pool

Company in 1979.

An accomplished visual artist, real estate licensee, and a lettered college athlete, Gene had

many interests and excelled in all of them. His greatest passion in life, second only to his family,

was his great love for music. From age nine, he became enchanted with the steel pedal guitar

and, by age 14, he was playing professionally on many infamous stages in Austin. During his

illustrious music career, he played alongside many of music’s greatest such as Bob Wills, Hank

Thompson, Willie Nelson, George Jones, Charlie Walker, Ernest Tubbs, Junior Reed, among

many others. Gene traveled the country playing at many respected music institutions, some of

his favorites being The Grand Ole Opry, Panther Hall, Gruene Hall and The Skyline Club. In

2009, Gene was inducted into The Cowtown Society of Western Music Hall of Fame; in 2010, he

was inducted into The Texas Western Swing Hall of Fame and, in 2012, he was inducted into the

Western Swing Society Hall of Fame.

Gene’s love of life and all God’s creatures brought him in contact with many wonderful people;

all of whom will miss him greatly. Gene was a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, and

friend. He never met a stranger and always had a twinkle in his eye and a smile on his face.

Through his many travels, Texas was always to remain his favorite place…a true Texas boy

through and through!

At the request of the deceased, there will be no local services.