Eugene H Aist

Eugene Hiatt Aist, 85, of Aurora, Colorado, died at home in his sleep on January 7, 2024. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Anna Lee (Porter) Aist, two sons, Kelvin Aist (Ann) of Buena Vista, CO, Rodney Aist (Janet) of Jerusalem, one daughter, Rebecca Aist McFee (Daniel) of Fort Collins, CO, and six grandsons, Mitchell Aist, Nathan Aist, Rudy Aist, Jed Aist, Giles McFee, and Isaac McFee.

Gene was born on June 10, 1938, in Cheltenham, Maryland to the Reverend Arthur Stewart Aist (d. 1966) and Carolyn Roberta (Thornburg) Aist (d. 1999). The third of nine children, Gene was preceded in death by three brothers and one sister—Arthur Stewart ‘Art’ Aist (1935–2011), Edward Wright Aist (1937–1937), John Edward Aist (1943–2017), and Linda Cheryl (Aist) Henley (1941–2018). He is survived by one brother and three sisters: James Aist, Carol (Aist) Hartsfield, Susan (Aist) Harris, and Christal (Aist) Farris.

As a child, Gene’s family moved from Maryland to Indiana before settling in Arkansas, where he graduated from Vilonia High School. As he ascended through life, Gene took others with him and blazed trails for those who would follow. Among his teenage accomplishments, he founded a Boy Scouts troop so that he and others could be Scouts. The first of his family to attend college, Gene completed an associate degree from Arkansas Tech University and a bachelor’s and a master’s degree from the University of Arkansas. He received a Doctor of Education from Arizona State University. He worked for Central Missouri State University, Arkansas State University, and the Arkansas State Department of Higher Education. Gene’s passions were many: supporting under-served populations and encouraging individuals to seek higher degrees through technical and community colleges.

Gene was a lifelong member of the Methodist church. During his college years, while his father was the pastor of Campground Methodist Church in Bethesda, Arkansas, Gene met the love of his life, Anna Lee Porter. Three children and six grandsons later, Gene and Anna retired to Colorado to be near family. Gene was an accomplished woodworker, photographer, gardener, enthusiastic mandolin player, and avid genealogist. He coached baseball, taught Sunday School, and especially loved being an adult leader in the Boy Scouts of America. Over several years, he completely restored a 1929 Model A Ford. After retiring to Colorado to enjoy his grandsons, he also co-founded a Friday Luncheon for seniors at his church, booking monthly guest speakers. Gene and Anna enjoyed traveling throughout the United States, visiting all 50 states. Together, they also traveled to many other countries. Yet, despite all that he was and did, his primary devotion—along with his marriage—was to his “three most wonderful kids in the world.” Bequeathing the legacy of an elevated life, he was above all else: beloved husband, father, and grandfather. Warm, caring, and self-sacrificial, Papa, Dad, Gene was and will always be loved.

A memorial service for Eugene will be held Saturday, February 3, 2024 at 11:00 AM at Smoky Hill United Methodist Church, 19491 E Smoky Hill Rd, Centennial, CO 80015.

The family requests donations be made to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research www.michaeljfox.org or Smoky Hill United Methodist Church www.smokyhillumc.org.