Gene Carroll Christian

Gene Christian, age 83, of Coleman, died Saturday, March 17, 2018, at Coleman County Medical Center. Funeral service will be 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, March 21, in Stevens Funeral Home Chapel with Bob Martin, of Elm Street Church of Christ, officiating, and assisted by Rev. Jeff Dean, pastor of North Coleman Baptist Church. Services are under the direction of Stevens Funeral Home, Coleman.

He was born Gene Carroll Christian on January 3, 1935, in Richland Springs, a son of Nelson (Dick) Christian and Edna Carroll Christian. He grew up in San Saba County and graduated from high school in Richland Springs. Following high school, he worked on the Deep Creek Ranch, south of Richland Springs, where he first developed his love of the land. While living in San Saba, he was involved with his sons in Boy Scouts and Little League.

Gene moved with his family to Coleman in 1973 as a maintenance supervisor with the Texas Department of Transportation. He was in charge of all roadways in Coleman County and he also helped improve the roadside parks. He oversaw the development of the lookout point on the Ray Stoker, Jr. Highway in Coleman County, and was the designer of the rock gardens on the bypass bridge in Coleman. In 1982 and 1992 he received the Lady Bird Johnson Beautification Award, and was a runner-up for this award in 1990, as well as many other awards for his beautification projects. He retired from the highway department after 30 years and then was instrumental in moving the Bodoodle Company from Louisiana to Coleman, where he was involved, along with his brother S. G. Christian, in the production of archery equipment. In 1994 he married Veda Elizabeth Pepper in Coleman.

Gene was a gifted musician and played his fiddle for many events in this area, including Senior Citizens musicals, and he also was the emcee at “The Echo Jamboree” for 25 years. He played under the big tent for many years at the Fiesta de la Paloma, as well as serving as the chairman for entertainment for that event. In 2007, Gene was presented with the Citizen of the Year award from the Chamber of Commerce.

Gene served on the board of the Chamber of Commerce for seventeen years, with nine of those years as president. He was also on the Board of Directors of the Coleman County Medical Center. Gene was a life-long member of the Church of Christ where he taught adult classes, served as song leader, was always willing to work on any tasks, and to help those in need.

Survivors include his wife, Veda Christian of Coleman; children, Randy Christian of Austin, Nicky Christian of Bella Vista, Arkansas, Judy Christian of Thompson, Utah, Debbie Cazier of Ely, Nevada, as well as the mother of his children, Anno Richards. After he and Veda married, he became a father to her children, Becky Phillips and husband Robert of Cross Plains, Angie Jackson and husband Chad of Midland, Mandy Tongate of Brownwood, and Aaron Tongate and wife Ericka of Coleman; 18 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law from the Pepper family and the Allen family; numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

Visitation will be held on Tuesday, March 20, from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at Stevens Funeral Home, 400 W. Pecan Street, Coleman, Texas 76834.

Condolences for the family may be left online at www.livingmemorials.com.