Clarence Gene Red

Clarence Gene Red, 80, of Moundville, Ala., and formerly of La Grande, died June 8 at Moundville Health & Rehabilitation with family at his side. According to Clarence's wishes, there will be no memorial service.

He was born in La Grande in 1930. Gene joined the U.S. Navy and was a veteran of the Korean War. He met the love of his life, Evelyn, on Canal Street in New Oreleans in 1948. The two married in 1949 and were together for nearly 60 years.

After serving in the Navy, Gene settled with Evelyn in Belle Chasse, La., in 1955 and remained there in the home he built until 2005. At that time, the couple moved to Moundville to be near their children. Gene spent 40 years as an auto body repairman and retired in 1995. After retirement, he bought an airplane and pursued his pilot's license. He took his solo flight in late 1997. Evelyn rode along on a flight around Plaquemines Parish.

Gene was preceded in death by his mother, Zelma; father, James; brothers, James and Eugene; sister, Donna; wife, Evelyn; and granddaugther, Crystal.

Survivors include his daughters, Karen Hunter and her husband, Herman, Robin Watkins and her husband, Barry, and Sheri Tillie and her husband, John; son, Terry Red and his wife, Tracy; 15 grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.

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