Eugene Carroll Badger

Our family is sad to announce that our father peacefully passed away at home on June 23, 2025 at the age of 96. Eugene Carroll Badger was born at home in Hastings, Florida on July 28, 1928 to Carroll Elmer Badger and Sadie Pellicer Badger. His three older brothers, Elmer, Walter and James Bernard Badger have predeceased him. Dad’s family farmed in Hastings and this farming background was the major influence in his life. He graduated from Hastings High School and began his favorite 4 years of life at the University of Florida where he proud to become member of Alpha Gamma Rho. Go Gators!

He taught agriculture and proudly served as a Lieutenant in the US Marine Corps in Korea. He met Irma McCollum on a front porch in Palatka, Florida and they have been married for 69 years. They bought a chicken farm in East Palatka and started a family. He was the proud father of five daughters: Sadie Hebard (Kevin), Kelley Stewart (Jon), Carol Dole (Richard) and Emily Sakol (Daryl) and the late Meredith Lynn. He was a beloved granddaddy to Rob, Kevin, Chandler, Maddie, Taylor, Peyton, Austen and Jensen. His great grands who know to say “Go Gators” after every blessing are Harper, Jack, Dylan and Pia.

Dad launched a successful insurance career with Farm Bureau Insurance which led him to become Vice President of Sales for Southern Farm Bureau in Jackson, Mississippi. He couldn’t stay away from his

beloved Florida so he began a second career with his own agency in Belle Glade, Florida. He devoted himself to serving the farmers in the Glades.

His free time was spent following his beloved Florida Gators. He traveled with his friends and 4 Gator daughters to football games both home and away. Dad was a devout Christian and never missed a Sunday service. He loved the church hymns although he was once asked not to sing quite so loudly. He taught us to value education, God, family and the U of F. He was a most loving father and we will miss him very much.

Services will be held at Howard-Quattlebaum Funeral Home on Thursday June 26th, 2025 from 3-5pm. Services will start promptly at 3pm, followed by the reception. In lieu of flowers, the family invites you to honor his memory with a donation to one of his favorite charities: Shriner’s Hospitals for Children or Florida United Methodist Children’s Home.