EUGENE 'GENE' HAMMONS

BERTRAND, Mo. -- Eugene "Gene" Hammons, 70, of Bertrand died Friday, June 15, 2001, at the Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston, Mo.

He was born April 15, 1931, in Poplar Bluff, Mo., the son of Eugene and Frances Thompson Yoakum Hammons. He was raised by his grandparents, William and Lida Hammons.

He married Brenda Collins Nov. 25, 1976. She survives.

He had lived in Bertrand since 1976 and was employed as a lab technician with the Chaffee Hospital and Dr. Henry Rzonca. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War and was a member of the Army National Guard in Cape Girardeau. He also was a member of Sikeston VFW Post 3174, Sikeston American Legion Post 9956 and Sikeston Eagles Club 3319, of which he was a past president. He was a Protestant.

He also is survived by three sons, Roger Ward of Bald Knob, Ark., Robert Ward of Judsonia, Ark., and Aaron Hammons of Los Angeles; six daughters, Cheryl Baker of Poplar Bluff, Cyndy Ward of Sikeston, Marilyn Mullin of Conway, Ark., Rhonda Reeves of Benton, Mo., Judy Williams of Sikeston and Sheila Polaschek of Cabot, Ark.; a sister, Delores LaRonge of St. Louis; 22 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers and one sister.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Sunday at the McMikle Funeral Home in Charleston.

Service will be at 11 a.m. Monday at the funeral home.

Burial will be at the Poplar Bluff City Cemetery at 2 p.m. Monday with military graveside rites by the Missouri Military Honors Program.