Eugene Earl Mago Jr.

Eugene "Gene" Mago, Jr of Visalia, California passed away on Wednesday, December 15, 2016. A visitation will take place on Wednesday, December 21, 2016 from 11:45 am - 1 p.m. with a Celebration of Life Service to follow at Westminster Memorial Park Mortuary.

Gene suddenly left us on Thursday morning, December 15, while climbing the stairs to his dentist office in Santa Ana. All measures to bring him back failed. Preliminary coroner results attributed his sudden death to pulmonary embolism.

Eugene Earl Mago Jr. arrived on January 17, 1965, to Rosalie and Eugene Mago in Bellflower, Ca, sporting the biggest blue eyes. He soon met his older sister Gina, and was later joined by Robby in 1968. Holly Nash joined her siblings in 1971 after Rosalie remarried. Later David Mago joined the family circle from his father's remarriage.

Gene spent his first 13 years living and going to school Artesia, Ca, moving to Huntington Beach in 1978. Gene loved sports and played little league baseball in Artesia and wanted to play football while attending Edison High School but an old knee injury prevented him from playing. His attention turned to marital arts eventually earning a black belt. Gene worked part time while in school starting with kitchen work at a popular restaurant in Huntington Beach. With his earnings he proudly bought a Moped that within two days was stolen. The police would soon find it and returned it to a very appreciative Gene. Gene always wanted to be a police officer. However, he continued working in restaurants after graduating from Edison eventually becoming a bartender at the Cannery in Newport Beach. From there he bar-tended at various other restaurants. During this time, Gene also worked as an extra for TV and movies. In fact, his biggest part was a police officer during a court scene in a movie.

Gene was married once ending in a divorce after several years and no children. His real parenting role came from many years with Heather and her three children, Destiny, Austin, and Briana. He became a loving father to them which continued after his relationship with Heather ended.

Inspired by his younger brother David becoming a police officer, Gene decided to finally pursue law enforcement by enrolling in Fullerton Junior College police training academy after which he became a Tulare Deputy Sheriff in 2007. Among his duties, Gene served on the Sheriff's Emergency Response Team (SERT).

Arrangements under the direction of Westminster Memorial Park Mortuary ~FD1030, Westminster, CA.