Gene McCray
Thursday, November 5, 2009 11:02 AM PST
Gene McCray
Feb. 14, 1929 - Nov. 2, 2009
Fruitland
Gene McCray, 80, Fruitland, went home to be with the Lord, Monday, Nov. 2, 2009. A viewing will be from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday at Shaffer-Jensen Memory Chapel, Fruitland. Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Friday at Shaffer-Jensen Memory Chapel, Fruitland. Graveside services will follow at Riverside Cemetery, Payette. Condolences may be made to the family at
www.shaffer-jensenchapel.com. Gene was born in Jenny Lind, Ark., Feb. 14, 1929, to Cliff and Addie McCray. Gene married Mary Ellyn “Lynn” Schmit April 13, 1962. For 31 years, he owned and operated Gene’s Auto Repair in Huntington Park, Calif., along with Lynn by his side as his girl Friday. Gene was a dedicated husband and father. He was also very dedicated to his community, always helping someone in need. Gene and Lynn moved to Fruitland in 1993 to reunite with family. They have been a part of the local community activities regularly with his famous fish frys, fresh salsa, holiday pull-a-part bread and his ever-famous “hillbilly quarters.” Gene made his mark on all of us. He loved people and loved to make them smile. His parting thoughts to us were, “It’s not what you take with you but what you leave behind that’s important.”
Gene wanted his family and friends to have good memories of him and their times together. His message of giving and kindness to one another was how he lived his life. He is survived by his wife, Lynn McCray; a daughter and son-in-law, Geanette and John Schmerber; grandchildren, Cheyenne and Jaden Schmerber; sisters, Lillian Patterson and Naomi Gattis; and numerous nieces and nephews.
His parents; brother, Charles McCray; and sisters, Ollie Willhite, Jessie McCray and Geraldine Powell, precede him in death.
