Gene Hagler, 85, son of William Linzie and Rebecca “Bessie” Elizabeth Tyree Hagler, was born June 7, 1922, at Rhyse in Dent County. He died Dec. 29, 2007, at Licking Park Manor after an extended illness.
He married Ina Irene Stone March 2, 1943, at the United Methodist Church at Licking. They had four children.
Mr. Hagler spent most of his life in the Licking area, operating the family farm. He and his wife owned and operated a service station/oil company in Licking for several years. He was a substitute rural mail carrier for the U.S. Postal Service for many years before his retirement.
He accepted Jesus Christ as personal savior in May 2004 in Springfield.
He enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren and looked forward to spring and watching the St. Louis Cardinals.
He was preceded in death by his parents; an infant son, Jerry Lee; sister, Eunice Gross; brothers, Johnny, Dorse and Marshall; and infant twin great-grandsons.
Surviving are his wife of 64 years of the home; his children, Jimmy Gene Hagler, Bonnie Sue Bentley and Judith Ann Rinne of Licking; sisters, Clarice Berry of Potosi, Ruby Bergum of Mesa, Ariz., Maxine Pepmiller of Licking and Bessie Marie Rohrich of Green Valley, Ariz.; twin brother, June A. Hagler of Licking; six grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
Services were Jan. 3 at the Pentecostal Holiness Church in Licking with the Rev. David Jett and the Rev. Jerry Dodson officiating. Burial was in the Licking Cemetery under the direction of Fox Funeral Home of Licking.
