April 14, 1931-Feb. 6, 2024

Gene G. Walker age 92, passed away Feb. 6, 2024. Gene was born April 14, 1931, in Rigby Idaho to Guy and Dena (Sherwood) Walker.

Gene graduated from Twin Falls High School in 1950. While still in high school Gene joined the military and was inducted into the Marines on Dec. 30, 1950. He served as a sergeant in the U.S. Marines Corps USS Antietam CV-36 in the Korean War in the Sea of Japan with an honorable discharge Dec. 7, 1953.

He married Donna Kirkham May 9, 1953, and together they had 4 beautiful children: one daughter and three sons. Gene went on to receive a BS in Animal Science from Utah State University, Logan, Utah, in 1960. Not long after graduating from USU, Gene was hired by Gery Brothers Ranch in Klamath Falls, Oregon, where he worked as a cattle foreman which was one of the highlights of his life. ,

After his first marriage ended, Gene married Carol Ann Murphy on Feb. 18, 1977, and instantly gained five bonus children — three daughters and two sons. Gene and Carol had one daughter together. Gene lived in Idaho Falls, Idaho, with Carol for 20 years in a home they built. During that time he worked as a chemical analyst/scientist 2 at the D.O.E. Site INEL for 27 years. Gene retired in March of 1995. In July of 1997 Gene, along with his dear friend Lee Hinkley, joined the Susquecentenial Wagon Train in Fort Bridger, Wyoming. Gene rode Duster, a beautiful horse, the entire trek, coming into the Salt Lake Valley on July 24, 2017. Several people would shout out, “There’s Kenny Rogers, can you sing to us?” This was another highlight in Gene’s life.

Gene and Carol moved to Provo, Utah, in 1997. While living in Provo, Gene and Carol served three missions for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Their first mission was in Birmingham, England, from 2006-08. The second mission was in Nauvoo, Illinois, from April 2010-October 2010, with the third mission in Hawaii from 2012-14. When asked if he had a favorite mission, Gene would say his Nauvoo mission, because he got to drive a horse-drawn wagon every day. Gene’s love of animals, especially horses, was apparent in everything he did. And he shared his love of horses with his kids. His love of horses was almost as big as his love of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Gene was a devout member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and lived each and every day of his life on this earth as such. He was the patriarch of his family whom all admired and looked up to. He was a kind and gentle spirit and all those who knew him couldn’t help but love him. He will be missed dearly, but we know we will be together again. “… Till we meet, till we meet. Till we meet at Jesus’ feet … God be with you till we meet again.”

Gene is survived by his wife of 47 years, Carol Walker St. George, Utah.

Children: Cindy Walker of Idaho Falls, Clay (Jana) Walker of Idaho Falls, Jon (Amy) Walker of Idaho Falls, Brian (Laurie) Walker of Idaho Falls, Jesse (Mark Hofeling) Walker of Vancouver BC, Canada and Kimberly (Brandon) Saline of Saratoga Springs, Utah;

Step-children: Kathy (Rick) Cluny, Karen Johnson, Kris (John) Trout, Kevin (Tracee) Shelton, Kelly (Dawn) Shelton;