Walter E. "Gene" Laired

Gene was born to Preston Laired and Gladys Richardson on January 19, 1940 in Mobile, AL. He grew up in Pasadena, Texas where he was a boy scout, played football and attended Pasadena schools. Here he met Virginia Zasada. They married in 1957 and together had two daughters, Theresa and Deborah. In 1967 he married Beverly Lindeman and together they had a son, Preston. Upon Beverly’s passing in 1997, Gene married Janette Barton with whom he shared 22 years of marriage.

Gene is survived by his children Theresa Masterson of Lewisville, TX, Deborah Wilson (Douglas) of Granbury, TX and Preston Laired (Cheryl) of Tomball, TX, 5 grandchildren, 9 great grandchildren and 2 great great grandchildren. He is also survived by three step children, Matt Wooten of Seabrook, TX, Mark Wooten (Christi) of Austin, TX and Debra McGrew of Crosby, TX, 8 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his second wife Beverly and Janette who passed away September 10, 2022.

Gene served in the United States Air Force from February 1957 through May 1960 when he was discharged honorably. He was an airfield fireman, and for much of his active-duty time was posted in Iceland. Gene’s professional career was spent as a sales executive in the food service industry for various companies until he landed at Sysco Food Service where he advanced to Regional Manager before retiring in 2010. He was an excellent salesman and manager and took great pride in providing his clients with excellent service and making certain his team excelled. He thought of his salesmen as part of his family. Gene was a great story teller – he loved to spin a tale. He was passionate about fishing and enjoyed freshwater bass fishing and saltwater fishing – being on a boat with a rod and reel was his favorite pastime. He was a true Southerner – loved his country and the Alabama Crimson Tide, Houston Oilers, then Texans, called all the ladies ‘Hon’ or ‘Baby’, was big on hugs and smooches. Gene was a lifelong Baptist and loved the Lord. He was a member of the Santa Fe Baptist Church for the last several years and enjoyed the many pot luck dinners, cake sales and fellowship with the congregation.

A celebration of Gene and Janette's life will be on Thursday, September 15, 2022 at Forest Park Lawndale Funeral Home, 6900 Lawndale Street, Houston, Texas 77023. Visitation with the family 9am; chapel service 10am; graveside service for Gene 11am; reception immediately following the service in the Magnolia Room. Graveside service for Janette at 3pm at Earthman Memory Garden Cemetery, Baytown, TX.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.ForestParkLawndaleFH.com for the Laired family.