Earl Gene Gatlin

Earl Gene Gatlin of Liberty Hill, died Tuesday, January 3, 2012, at the age of 71. Funeral services will be 2:00 P.M. Friday, January 6, 2012, at Cole Funeral Home Chapel, 1113 West Fifth Street, McGregor with Pastor Neal Landry officiating. Interment will follow in Osage Cemetery. Visitation will be 6 to 8 P.M. Thursday at Cole Funeral Home.

Mr. Gatlin was born July 16, 1940, in the Osage Community of Coryell County, Texas, the son of the late Rufus and Agnes Ione (Gilchrest) Gatlin. He was a 1958 graduate of McGregor High School where he played, football, basketball, baseball and was in the Bulldog Band. He continued his education at the University of Texas at Austin. On August 31, 1962, he married the former Betty Jo Luedeker at Zion Lutheran Church in McGregor, Texas. He was employed in several retail entities including PepsiCo and various other retail businesses as a comptroller in the state of Texas. He was employed for sixteen years with the Texas Department of Transportation as a budget analyst until his retirement in 2004. In 1980 he moved from Austin to Liberty Hill where he has made his home.

He was a member of the Williamson County Emergency Services #4 where he served as secretary, treasurer and president. He enjoyed sports, outdoor activities and music. He was an avid UT supporter and enjoyed attending UT Football games and Liberty Hill Panther Football games. Family meant a lot to him. He enjoyed being with them and doing things together. His other interests include genealogy, visiting with friends and being involved in the local community.

Also preceding him in death was a brother, Kenneth Ray Gatlin.

Survivors include his wife of forty-nine years, Betty Gatlin; two sons, Brad Gatlin and wife Cindy of Liberty Hill, Dr. Coley Gatlin and wife Andrea of Boerne; two sisters, Janet Hardee and husband Bobbie of Centerville, Cindy Ledbetter and husband Doug of Waco; six grandchildren Caroline Grace Gatlin, McKenna Faith Gatlin, Claire Annsley Gatlin, Will Bradley Gatlin, Brandt Daniel Gatlin and Nathanael Jude Gatlin.

Casketbearers will be Charles Nash, Kyle Hardee, Josh Wadsworth, Heath Nash, Clay Hardee Cory Ledbetter and Hayden Nash.

For those desiring, the family has suggested Fellowship Baptist Church, 3600 Ranch Road 1869, Liberty Hill, Texas 78642 or Zion Lutheran Church, 503 S. Tyler Street, McGregor, Texas 76657 for memorial contributions.