Gena Leigh (Gresham) Gage

Gena Gresham Gage, 54, born on December 31, 1970 in Nacogdoches to parents Don and Nita Gresham, passed away in Houston, Texas on October 7, 2025. She is survived by her husband Mike Gage, stepson Dirk Gage and wife Jenna, parents, uncles Carrol Gresham and Robert Lee Chancelor, Aunt Valerie Crum and husband Don and a number of cousins whom she loved dearly.

Gena was a very caring and talented individual who had many interests, many talents and quietly achieved recognition in her work and her hobbies.

As a child, she loved spending time with her extended family – aunts, uncles and cousins. They were some of her best friends and travel buddies. She especially loved her grandparents.

Her fondness for people of an older generation inspired her to work at a nursing home soon after finishing high school. Even when her patients exhibited outrageous behavior, she cared for them and wanted to be certain they were protected and understood.

She adored her mom and dad. Her dad taught her to be self-sufficient by taking her deer hunting. One cold, fall morning, he proudly drove her around town so his buddies could see the nine-point deer she got at dawn.

She first learned to cook and organize events from her mom. Gena worked with her mom and aunts to organize family celebrations - from the invitations to the clean up. No small feat given most family events included at least 40 people.

When she married, she enjoyed building a home and establishing traditions with her husband Mike and her stepson Dirk.

She earned her Associates in Applied Science in culinary arts from San Jacinto College and went on to work as a sous chef at one of the top restaurants in Houston. She then returned to Nacogdoches and opened her own restaurant which received high praise from customers and critics, and was featured in Texas Monthly.

Gena was a beautiful baker as well. Whether it was a four-tier cake with elaborate piping or a fun cake made to look like a picnic basket overrun by ants, she gave attention to the details.

She applied that same work ethic when she changed careers and established a business in medical office management. Gena stayed on top of ever-changing laws and did her best to help her clients maintain compliance so they could focus on patient care.

She was a fun beautiful person and she will be missed.

A visitation for Gena will be held Tuesday, October 14, 2025 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM at Cason Monk-Metcalf Funeral Directors, 5400 North Street, Nacogdoches, Texas. A funeral service will occur Tuesday, October 14, 2025 at 11:00 AM, 5400 North Street, Nacogdoches, Texas.

Gena will be laid to rest in Pleasant Hill, Nacogdoches, Texas.

Arrangements are under the direction of Cason Monk-Metcalf Funeral Directors.