Gene Edward Bennett

Gene Edward Bennett, 87, of Liberty, Missouri, passed away peacefully at Ashton Court Care Center on Tuesday, December 22, 2015.   He was born February 1, 1928, the son of Clarence E. and Georgia A. (Slagle) Bennett near Lock Springs, Missouri. He grew up on the family farm in Breckenridge, Missouri, and after graduating from Breckenridge High School in 1945, he was inducted into the United States Army, Signal Corp, and served in Korea with the occupation forces there in 1946-1947.      On May 9, 1954, he was united in marriage to Virginia Ruth Thompson in Chillicothe, Missouri. Gene moved from Chillicothe, MO to Liberty, MO in 2007 to care for Virginia until her passing in 2011.      Gene was employed by Chillicothe Municipal Utilities in 1956 until his retirement in 1993. He worked in various capacities in the water purification and distribution systems. He was a member of the United Methodist Church, in Chillicothe, MO; a past member of Kiwanis and Jaycees, and a charter member of the Grand River Audubon Society. He continued to be active in caring for the family farm and enjoyed just getting out to observe the beauty of nature.      He is survived by one son, Jeffrey E. Bennett and wife, Cheryl (Yeomans); one daughter, Laurie J. Hutchison and husband, Dan, all of Liberty, MO; one great grandchild, Owen J. Temple of Des Moines, IA, five grandchildren, Katherine E. Bennett of St. Louis, MO; Jessica D. (Bennett) Temple and husband, Greg, of Des Moines, IA; Brant G. Hutchison, Megan E. Hutchison, and Drew B. Hutchison, all of Liberty, MO; two sisters, Winifred Tilberg, of Shawnee Mission, KS; and Martha A. Hogan and husband, Bill, of Garden City, KS; and several nieces and nephews.      He was preceded in death by his wife, Virginia R. Bennett, his parents, a sister, Helen A. Welborn, and a brother, Wayne Bennett.      A Celebration of Life service will be at the United Methodist Church in Chillicothe, Missouri, on Saturday Dec 26, 2015 at 2 p.m. A family visitation will be held one hour prior to the service from 1:00 p.m. until 2:00 p.m. at the United Methodist Church. Friends may call at the Lindley Funeral Home, Chillicothe, Missouri, on Saturday, December 26, 2015, from 8:00 a.m. until 10:00 a.m. There will be a private family burial at Edgewood Cemetery in Chillicothe, Missouri. The family suggests that memorial contributions be made to the United Methodist Church or the Grand River Audubon Society and may be left at or mailed to Lindley Funeral Home, P.O. Box 47, Chillicothe, Missouri 64601. Online condolences may be made at www.lindleyfuneralhomes.com . Arrangements are under the direction of Lindley Funeral Home, Chillicothe, Missouri.