OBITUARY: Harold Eugene (Gene) Bayless

Harold Eugene (Gene) Bayless, 78, of 4245 Raleigh Road, died Wednesday, Aug. 8, 2012, at his residence.

He was born in Doe Run, Mo., on Feb. 16, 1934, to the late Harry and Ola (Hardesty) Bayless.

He was an army veteran of the Korean conflict, a member of the American Legion Post 416 in Farmington, Mo., a member of the Eldorado Main Street and Eldorado Lion's Club. He was the owner of Bayless Real Estate in Eldorado for many years and he was the manager of the Eldorado and Mills Shoals Waste Water.

Gene is survived by his wife, the former Janet (Wenzel). Also surviving are daughters, Kim Bayless of Fairfield, Jana Bayless of Carmi and Gina Ndem of Bridgeton, Mo.; stepdaughters, Kim Rider of Evansville, Ind., Barbara Pearce of Norris City, Karen Boulds of Eldorado, Mary Hughes of Metropolis and Natalie Morse of Eldorado; and stepson Randall Fromm of Eldorado.

Also surviving are 17 grandchildren and three sisters, Phyllis Rudolph of Herrin, Janet Courtney of St. Louis, Mo., and Norma Roberts of Farmington.

He was preceded in death by two brothers, Harry and Warren Bayless; and four sisters, Juanita Hahn, Margueret Powell, Ann Aubuchon and Glenda Bayless.

Funeral services will be held 1 p.m. Saturday, August 11, 2012, at the Watson Funeral Home with the Rev. Walter Baker officiating. Burial will be in Wolf Creek Cemetery with military rites. Visitation will be held from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, August 10, 2012, at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Southern Illinois and left at the funeral home.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at watsonfuneralhome.net