Wednesday, January 24, 2007 – Herald & News – Klamath Falls, Oregon Eugene R. Hanks, 88, passed away on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2006, in Medford, Ore. Gene was born on March 21, 1918, in Fort Bidwell, Calif., to Roy and Vida Hanks. As a teenager, he set out for Elko, Nev., to join his uncle Ed working as a cowhand on some of the area's largest ranches. In 1940, Gene met and married Alice Jane McFarlane, the unlikely pair of a cowboy and a city girl in a marriage that would last 55 years until Jane's death in 1995. After starting their family, Gene and Jane moved to Fallon, Nev., where he began working as a carpenter and farmer. Gene's skills and management style helped many of the area's carpenters to become contractors, including his son Alvin. In 1978, Gene and Jane "retired" to their son Carl's ranch in Railroad Valley, Nev. Gene returned to his first love, being a cowboy. He always thought the world looked better from the back of a horse. Following the death of his wife, Gene became restless, traveling until he met Vera Fern Fisher. Fern became his constant companion and faithful sidekick, or was he hers? No dirt road or cow trail was safe from this pair. Gene is lovingly survived by his children and their spouses Carl (Carole) Hanks of Blue Eagle Ranch, Nev., Alvin (Tina) Hanks of Fallon and Nancy Landon of Missoula, Mont.; his companion Fern Fisher of Lakeview, Ore.; sisters Opal Daniels of Fallon, Zola (Jerry) Lewis of Grants Pass, Ore., and Norma Hapgood of Lake City, Calif.; and numerous nieces and nephews. His wonderful grandchildren and continuously growing number of great-grandchildren will carry on Gene's legacy of love and laughter. He was preceded in death by his wife Jane; brothers Carl and Jim Hanks; and three grandchildren. To all who knew him as Grandpa Gene or just Grandpa and those who called him a friend, do not mourn his passing, but celebrate his life. Learn from his lesson and find humor in everything. No funeral is planned at this time. ~~~~~~ Billie C. & Anita 'Jean' Reynolds Family Researcher of "The Last Frontier" Modoc County, California --- Our outgoing mail is checked by ZoneAlarm AntiVirus.