Gene Brook Mcwherter

Gene Brook McWherter age 90 of Paris, TN, died peacefully surrounded by his family on June 4, 2022, at Henry County Medical Center in Paris.

Gene was born on February 23, 1932, in Palmersville, TN, as an only child to the late Claude & Annie D. Webb McWherter.  The family moved to Detroit, MI in 1933 and returned to Palmersville, TN, in 1948 when Gene was 16 years old.  Gene graduated from Cottage Grove High School in 1950.

During the summer after his graduation, he had rheumatic fever and stayed in bed for many months.  As a result, his heart was enlarged, so when his number came up for the draft, the Army turned him down.

In 1952, he began working at Holley Carburetor Plant.  After working in many different capacities, he was promoted to Supervisor of Quality Control and transferred to the plant in Bowling Green, KY, where he retired in 1994 after 42 years of service to the company.

Gene was a sports enthusiast.  Since a young age he enjoyed playing basketball, baseball, and later in life, golf.  However, Gene had many other talents.  He was an artist & lover of music.  What began as a love of drawing as a child, became a favorite pastime in retirement.  Over the years, he enjoyed oil painting landscapes & portraits.  He spent many hours perfecting his art at the Lee Academy for the Arts and became a member of the Tennessee River Fine Arts League.  His children fondly remember him as a lover of music.  They grew up having the latest 45 records and often sang in the car, at home, and at church as a family.

He was a member of the Eastwood Church of Christ, serving as a deacon, for many years.

He is survived by his beloved wife of 71 years, Joan Kennedy McWherter, and their three children, Janet (Jerry) Bomar of Cottage Grove, Mark (Sandy) McWherter, and Hope McWherter Marr, both of Paris; one sister-in-law, Nancy Kennedy of Decatur, AL; his grandchildren, Tiffany (late Todd) Latta of Paris, Kaitlyn (Ben) Bonds of Clarksville, TN, Matt McWherter of Paris, TN, Olivia (Jared Hill) McWherter of Chattanooga, TN, Tyler Stanley of Paris, and Brooke Marr of Paris.  He is also survived by his great-grandchildren, Marly Kate & Miles Latta of Paris, Fox Bonds of Clarksville, TN, and Aubree Hotz and Myla McWherter of Paris.

Arrangements are being handled by Ridgeway Funeral Home, 201 Dunlap St., PO Box 788 Paris, TN 38242.  Visitation will be Tuesday, June 7, 2022, from 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm at Ridgeway Funeral Home, and continue Wednesday, June 8, 2022, from 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm.  The funeral service will be Wednesday, June 8, 2022, at 2:00 pm at Ridgeway Funeral Home with Josh Manning officiating.

Serving as pallbearers will be Chad Kennedy, Steve Delaney, Rick Moody, Brian Foster, John McDavid, Craig Brown, Stan Wilson, and Charlie Neal.  Named as honorary pallbearers are Gene Snowden and Dan Patterson.

Burial will be in Rose Lawn Memory Garden in Paris, TN.

Memorials may be made to Eastwood Church of Christ Scholarship Fund, 800 E Wood St. Paris, TN 38242 or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.