(Ralph Eugene) Gene Akins was born July 23, 1933 in Springfield, Missouri. He passed away on June 2, 2019 at home surrounded by his family. He was 85 years old at the time of his passing. Gene was preceded in death by his parents Leonard Akins and Rachel Cox, his wife, Lois (Norris) Akins and a granddaughter Carrie Rice.

Gene and Lois were married August 28, 1952.  They were married 59 years before she passed away. To this union five children were born, Debbie (Bill) Carter Jr, Vicki (Mikie) Oetker, Jeffrey (Beth) Akins, Jennifer (Pat) Cure and Shawn (Kristy) Akins; fifteen grandchildren, thirty- seven great-grandchildren, two great-great-grandchildren; two sisters Rose (Roger) Nelms and Pat White; and a host of family and friends. He will be missed by all who knew him.

Gene was a member of the Parkview Christian Church where he played his harmonica with the praise team every Sunday for the past several years. Gene was baptized there in August of 1964 and was active until his health wouldn't allow him to be there.  He looked forward to Sunday morning all week long. At different times he and Lois worked at the church doing custodial work. After retiring from his job as a painting contractor Gene loved keeping the yard mowed and the bushes trimmed at church. He worked on a breakfast crew cooking scrambled eggs for the Parkview high school students for several years. He loved his church family and serving at the church.

His hobbies over the course of his life included motorcycle riding, going to the lake every weekend water skiing, ground-hog hunting with friends, garage selling and tinkering with anything at all.

His favorite thing in his later years was music. He taught himself to play the harmonica at the age of 70, and he used that talent every Sunday at church. Recently he was teaching himself the dulcimer. He had many interests and never tired of mastering new things. As his health continued to fail, he saved every ounce of strength to play on Sunday morning with the praise team. He even joined in via skype from a hospital bed a couple of times. He also was a great storyteller though he often couldn't remember if he'd told you "that one" before. Gene never met a stranger and was always glad to visit with you. He loved his family very much. When he was very ill he told his daughter there were worse things than being dead. He knew Jesus and was sure of the promise he had received. He is in the heavenly realms now greeting loved ones and meeting a granddaughter he never had an opportunity to meet here on earth.

Funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m., Thursday, June 6, 2019 in Parkview Christian Church.  Visitation will be held Wednesday from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the church, under the care of Gorman-Scharpf Funeral Home.

You rode er to the ground dad!