Gene Jennings

Eugene Gene Jennings went to be with his Lord and Savior, at age 71, Monday, September 8, 2008 with his loving family by his bedside at his home in Hot Springs. He was born August 30, 1937 in Dyersburg, Tennessee, a son of the late Emmett Holland and Willie Buel Lassiter Jennings. Mr. Jennings was raised by his mother and the late Horace Lamar Jennings, who adopted him at an early age. He attended Rison schools and was baptized at Rison Baptist Church at the age of 11. After graduating from Rison High School in 1955, he attended college at Arkansas A & M, where he was on the basketball team that won the AIC Championship in 1956. While attending college he was given the nicknames Moon and Smiley. He was in the Arkansas National Guard as an Spc. (Sgt), 404th Ord. Co. (wheel vehicles) from September 1956 to September 1962. He was activated into the U.S. Army in September and October 1957 during the Little Rock High School Integration Crisis. He was activated again into the U S Army from September 1961 to September 1962 during the Berlin Crisis, where Russia was trying to keep supplies out of Berlin.

He worked for the U S Forest Service for twenty eight years as a Forest Planner. During this time, he was awarded four Outstanding Performance Awards. His fist assignment with the Forest Service began in September 1962, searching the National Forest for illegal mining claims with people living illegally on the mining claims in Prescott, Arizona. While working in Prescott, his first baby girl was born on December 10, 1963. In January of 1964, he was transferred to Fredonia, Arizona to work on the North Caibab National Forest which adjoined the Grand Canyon National Park on the North Rim. There he did general forest work such as marketing timber, scaling logs and helping the District Ranger on range (cattle grazing) projects. In 1965, he was transferred to the Oden Ranger District on the Ouachita National Forest in Arkansas. After a year, he was transferred to Talihina, Oklahoma as the Assistant Ranger on the Kiamichi Ranger District Ouachita National Forest. While working Talihina, his second baby girl was born on December 6, 1966. While in Talihina, he was also a Forestry Instructor at a Veterans Night School for two years. He also taught Sunday school and was a member of the Lions Club. In 1976 he was transferred to Andalusia, Alabama where he worked as Forest Manager for Conecuh National Forest. In 1980 he was transferred to Montgomery, Alabama where he was the Interdisciplinary Team Leader that developed the Environmental Impact Statement and Forest Plan that determined how the 650,000 acres of National Forests in Alabama would be managed. The plan was implemented in 1986. He retired on December 31, 1989 and moved to Hot Springs, Arkansas.

He pursued another degree in accounting at the age of 51, acquired an academic scholarship and graduated with honors from Auburn University at Montgomery, Alabama in May of 1989 with a 3.90 GPA. He is a 32 degree Mason as a member of Culpepper Lodge # 186 in Rison.

Gene loved to read, fish and camp. He enjoyed being with his family and friends. He wrote several articles about growing up in Rison for the Cleveland County Herald in his latter years. He never lost his sense of humor and kept his positive attitude until the end. He was a loving husband, father, friend, teacher, fisherman, writer, forester, honor student and dedicated soldier. He led a life full of compassion, purpose and joy. He was an honest man who believed that good always won over evil, and the beat goes on. He was preceded in death by his biological father, Emmett Holland, mother, Willie Buel Lassiter Jennings, and father Horace Leslie Jennings.

Survivors; wife of 47 years, Hazel Main Jennings of Hot Springs; daughters, Tina Rogers and spouse Tom of Rison, Dianna Jennings of Benton; three brothers, Lamar Jennings and Pat of Rison, Horace Jennings and Darlene of Mansfield, Texas, Charles Jennings and Gail of Bentonville, Arkansas; sister-in-law, Maxine Hargrove of Point Cedar, Arkansas; granddaughter, Heather Taylor and husband Steve of Rison; two great granddaughters, Emily and Mary Beth Taylor, along with various other friends and loved ones. He will be greatly missed by all who had the privilege of having known him.

Visitation will be 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Tuesday, September 9, 2008 at Buie Funeral Home in Rison. Funeral services will be 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, September 10, 2008 at Rison Baptist Church with Brother C. E. Van Ness officiating. Burial will be at Greenwood Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Jackie Bowlin, Havis Hyatt, Louis Knowles, Herschel S. Garner, Jerry Taylor and J. T. Rogers. Honorary pallbearers will be the Staff of St. Josephs Mercy Health Center, Dr. Reddy, Susan Adams, Arkansas Hospice, and the Rison High School Class of 1955. Memorials may be made to St. Joseph Mercy Hospital Cancer Unit in Hot Springs.

Arrangements are under the direction of Buie Funeral Home of Rison (870)325-6216.