1947 - 2024
Eugene Earl “Gene” Spoon, 77, of Winfield, Kansas, was found following a fire at the Driftwood Inn, Wednesday, October 23, 2024, while on a dream moose hunt trip in Deer Lake, NewFoundland, Canada.
Gene was born March 12, 1947 in Oklahoma. He was the son of Roy and Ruth (Asbury) Barger. He was raised and received his education in Dexter, where he graduated high school. After graduating, Gene worked for many years at Morton Buildings before embarking on his career in the financial services/insurance industry. Gene married Janet Spoon in 1983. They made their home in Winfield with his daughters, Gina and Christy.
Gene was never a salesman, rather a consultant who took pride in helping folks all across Kansas, put their money to work and help set them up for retirement. He worked tirelessly traveling and subsequently, as a result of his hard work, became a perennial President Cabinet member at his company, where he retired after 35 years in 2022.
Prior to his official retirement, Gene started a mowing business to keep himself busy as well as to fund his passion to hunt exotic and wild game across many continents. Nothing made Gene happier than crossing off one of his dream animals and using the meat to feed needy families and in certain cases, an entire village.
Gene was kind, gentle, hardworking, and made friends everywhere he went. Gene never met a stranger. Gene is known for always having a joke, a smile, and would compliment and build up everyone around him.
Gene tragically passed “living his dream” while on a moose hunt in Deer Lake, Newfoundland, Canada. There will be a nature trail named in his honor outside Deer Lake, Humber River Nature Trail.
Gene is survived by his daughters, Gina Heller and husband, Dave of Rancho Cucamonga, CA; Christy Rozo and husband, Paul of Newport Beach, CA; his brother Riley Duane Barger of Tucson, AZ; his sister Cathy Smith of Broken Arrow, OK; his grandchildren, Amber Brayton, Jarad Farber, Gabrielle Hazel, Jackson Heller, Bianca Gaxiola, and Andrew Rozo; and his great grandchildren, Lucas, Rylan, Macie, Bella, and Roxey Brayton; Charlie and Lucy Farber; and Gavin, Gianna, and Genevieve Gaxiola.
In addition to his parents and wife, Gene was preceded in death by a sister Sara Barger and a brother Dale Spoon.
Memorial services will be held at 1:00 P.M., Saturday, November 9, 2024, at MilesFuneral Service in Winfield.
A memorial has been established in Gene’s name for the Cowley County Humane Society. Contributions may be made through the funeral home.
