Eugene Owen Cambern

To Eugene Owen Cambern, the entire world was a stage. An expressive, optimistic, and uninhibited individual, he was a performer in the theater of life. To everyone around him, he seemed to be eternally happy, and he willingly shared that joy with anyone whose life he touched. For Eugene, bringing out the best in any situation was as easy as offering a smile, a witty remark or the twinkle of an eye. And with just those simple gestures, he could evoke the most pleasant of emotions. Eugene really mastered the art of living and had great fun in doing so.

His parents were Martha Huber and Owen Cambern. Eugene was raised in Austin, Minnesota. Even as a child, Eugene had the ability to lift the spirits of all those around him. He was raised to be warm, caring and friendly. He couldn’t help but capture everyone’s attention. He was definitely a little bit of a show off, but in doing so, he succeeded in entertaining his entire family.

Eugene never actually encountered a stranger in his dealings with people. He was drawn to individuals and crowds, using his gregarious, adaptable and outgoing personality to captivate his audience. This quality allowed Eugene to continually develop new relationships, ever widening his circle of friends. Eugene delighted in his role among all his acquaintances, because he viewed them all as potential spectators for his performance. Whether it was a story, a joke, a song or just plain fooling around, Eugene was always right at home putting on a show among his friends. Eugene utilized his interest in others as a great way to connect with them. Later in life, he became friends with Speedy. Eugene loved sharing life and having his home filled with people he knew.

The gift of being emotionally expressive and outwardly affectionate made Eugene very easy to approach. On 1996 Eugene exchanged wedding vows with Olga Lugo at Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints of El Paso, Texas. He tried hard not to impose on his spouse. He was always sensitive to other people’s feelings, and that was especially true in marriage.

Perhaps the reason Eugene related so well to children was the fact that he never really completely grew up himself. The ability to be just a “kid at heart” helped him in raising his own children. Eugene was blessed with 7 children, Dwain and Daryl Cambern, Edward & Charles Lawson, Pamela Chapa, Aracely and Cesar Fernandez. They were also blessed with six grandchildren, Brianna and Luis Fernandez, Dail John Chapa, Dain, Megan and Angela Chambern. Eugene had the ability to focus his attention on the present moment. If he was spending time with the kids, that’s where all of his attention was directed. Eugene's compassionate side prevented him from being a strict disciplinarian, and he could turn just about any situation into a playful, learning experience. He could spend hours entertaining them with fun and creative play. In fact, Eugene had a knack for turning some of those nasty old chores into games.

At work, as in life, Eugene was a real “people person. ” he had a very successful way of dealing effectively with others, and his enthusiasm and energy was often contagious. Eugene liked to see himself as something of a virtuoso. When dealing with various projects and problems, Eugene was an adaptable realist, using his common sense and trusting his experiences and impulses to uncover the correct answer. Eugene's talent for being a down to earth thinker, allowed many around him to see Eugene as an excellent problem solver. His primary occupation was as a technology director and he was employed for 40 years at GTE.

Eugene was a Marine Corps veteran he saw action in World War II. Through his hard work and dedication, he achieved the rank of First Lieutenant.

Eugene enjoyed his leisure time by taking part in various hobbies. An “arts and crafts” type, Eugene liked creating and making things. His favorite pursuits were golfing, running, eatting candies & sweets and wood working. Eugene was content to enjoy his hobbies alone but was also willing to share his interests with others.

Eugene felt excited and challenged by sports. Even if he wasn’t the best, Eugene loved to participate and thoroughly enjoyed the competition and the pleasure of being around other people. Eugene relished the opportunities where he could make an impact, and he would often push himself to play above his abilities. A quick thinker who understood the basics, Eugene never seemed to get caught off guard, even when confronted with unexpected conflict. Recreational sports included golfing and running. Eugene was also something of a sports fan and enjoyed watching his favorite events whenever he got the opportunity. Tops on his list were football.

Vested with a deep concern for spiritual development, Eugene recognized that his faith was important to him throughout his life. He was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints for over 20 years. During that time, he served as Bishop.

Eugene believed that you had to experience life, and his life in retirement was no different. When that day finally arrived sometime in the 80's., Eugene took it in stride as one more way to have fun. His new life involved relocating to Del Rio, Texas. With his boundless energy and a desire to get the most out of life, Eugene remained busy with people and projects. In retirement, he found new pleasure in golfing, running and being active at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Even in retirement, Eugene continued to stay in touch with his old friends and, since he'd never met a stranger, he made plenty of new acquaintances as well.

Eugene passed away on February 4, 2011 at Summerlin Hospital in Las Vegas, Nevada. Eugene fought a long, brave battle against Liver Cancer. He is survived by his wife, Olga, his children Daryl, Dwain, Edward, Cesar, Aracely, his grandchildren and great grandchildren. Services were held at The Church Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints at the Peace Way Chapel. Eugene was laid to rest in Palm Valley View Cemetery in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Eugene brought joy to all of those around him. He never had a mean bone in his body. He loved to have a good time and was an eternal optimist, always looking on the bright side of things. He loved to share his energy, wit, and his zest for all of his activities with his friends and family. Eugene Owen Cambern lived life to its fullest and made everyone around him happier just for knowing him. He will be remembered with a smile.

Arrangements under the direction of Palm South Jones Mortuary, Las Vegas, NV.