Gene Reynolds, 87, passed away at his
home in Puyallup, WA on October 15 a er
a two-year battle with cancer.
Gene was born in Dewey County, South
Dakota, and his family moved to the Seattle
area when he was a small child. A er initially
settling in Seattle, they moved to Kent
and Gene graduated from Kent High School
in 1950. Out of high school Gene was employed
by e Boeing Company, le to
spend 4 years as an aircra mechanic in the
US Air Force (1951 – 1955), and then went
back to Boeing until his retirement. Upon
discharge from the Air Force, Gene met
Amy Boley, and they married in 1957. ey
initially lived in South Seattle but moved
to Kent where they raised their family on
Kent’s Scenic Hill.
Gene spent his entire working career at Boeing, retiring a er
42 years. Unfortunately his wife passed away shortly a er retirement,
but Gene was lucky to have found new friends and a 1931
Model-A he named Susie and spent much time in his later years
tinkering with Susie and hanging out with fellow members of
the Galloping Gerties Model-A Club of Tacoma.
Gene had a lifelong love of music, and enjoyed
going to live music events including
musical theater at various regional theater
companies and concert halls. He encouraged
his grandchildren to play musical instruments
and participate in the arts and
enjoyed watching them perform in concerts
and plays.
Gene also enjoyed spending as much
time as possible outdoors, working in his
proli c vegetable garden and beautifully
landscaped yard. Until a year ago he was
still camping with friends and family each
year.
A er his cancer diagnosis in 2018, Gene
sold his Mt. Rainier-view home in Orting
and moved into an assisted living facility in
Puyallup where he resided until his passing.
Gene is survived by three loving children, Laura (Ron) Hartliep,
John (Gina) Reynolds and Pam Reynolds. Gene also has
4 grandchildren – Bobbi, Eric, Hayden and Ollie and 4 great
grandchildren.
No memorial is planned at this time due to the pandemic.
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