We are sad to announce the passing of Gene Roger Monroe of Cle Elum, WA. He died at the age of 91 on December 1, 2022, at Evergreen Hospice after being hospitalized in October. He has now joined his wonderful wife, Elaine, who he missed “terribly” since her passing in July 2020. Gene was born in Hiles, WI August 23, 1931, the third of four children to Lester and Mary Monroe.
In 1935, at the age of 3, Gene’s family moved to Palmer, Alaska through a New Deal program known as The Matanuska Colony, which was established to bring farmers to the area. They eventually moved to Anchorage where Gene graduated from high school. His parents came to Seattle in the early 1950’s, and Gene followed, but continued to return to Alaska for several summers to work in construction.
Gene met his wife, Elaine in Seattle and they married January 17, 1955. They celebrated 65 years of marriage before Elaine passed. He is survived by his five children, Loren (Robbin) of Port Townsend, Yvonne (Dennis) of Redmond, Gary (Diane) of Colville, Lee (Alice) of White Salmon, and Perry (Debbie) of Woodinville; and eight grandchildren: Chris, Shane, Maria, Chad, Kendra, Kalli, Jeremy, and Jessica, plus two great-grandchildren: Abraham and Autumn.
A private graveside service will be held December 13th, and a celebration of life will be scheduled for next summer for both Gene and Elaine.
Gene worked in construction, usually for asphalt companies, as a truck driver. He retired in 1989 from Lakeside Industries after forty years in the industry. Since this was seasonal work due to the weather, he and Elaine built the houses where they raised their family. He also supplemented his income with remodel and building projects for others and helped several of his children build their homes. He always found projects to keep the family busy. It could be cutting and splitting wood to heat the house, making hay each summer to feed the cows Elaine raised, or clearing and building a road to their property on Union Hill, just to name a few.
Gene and Elaine liked to camp and would take their young family tent camping. One year Gene built a camper, and the family enjoyed many weekends over the years at favorite spots like Troublesome Creek, and Red Bridge. Every year there was a trip to Fishtrap Lake and Sun Lakes State Park.
He and Elaine enjoyed over thirty years of retirement together. They traveled around the country including Alaska and some parts of Canada with their fifth wheel trailer. No matter how far from home they were, they always returned to their retirement home on the Teanaway River in Cle Elum. There was always a party for his birthday in August, and we also enjoyed many gatherings at the river every summer.
After several years on the road, they decided to spend winters at Country Roads RV Village in Yuma, AZ. He served in several capacities on committees and the board and quickly made pool time a daily activity. He would sit in the pool on his noodle chair and regale others with his stories, and he was quite the storyteller. It could be anything from his time in Alaska, to the work he did, or their travels. Two things that we have heard a lot from those who knew him at Country Roads are that he was a storyteller, and you could set your clock by his pool time. He also played cards and cribbage and he and Elaine went to every dance. Gene would be down at the clubhouse Monday morning to be first in line to pay for a particular table, where their friends would join them. I think it was table 10 that he always had to get. Since he was an early riser, he had no trouble being at the office early to make sure he got that table.
Dad, we love you. You will be missed but we are all happy that you are no longer in any pain, and you are dancing and playing cards with Mom.
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