Gene Kemper Boone, age 97 of Belton, Missouri formerly of Butler, Missouri died Saturday, January 15, 2022 at Overland Park Regional in Overland Park, Kansas. He was born January 2, 1925 to William Felton Boone Jr. and Bessie Adeline Kemper Boone in Farmington, Missouri.
Gene, one of five children, grew up in Farmington and Charleston, Missouri and graduated from Charleston High School. On August 24, 1948 he married Martha Lou McDowell and to this union, three children were born. Gene earned his Bachelor’s degree from Louisiana State University in 1953 and taught school in Golden Meadow, Louisiana before moving to St. Louis, Missouri in 1958 where he taught school for 20 years. He moved to Butler in 1977 where he owned and operated the Nelson Motel until 1995. After selling the motesl, he worked at Walmart in Butler for over 20 years. Gene served in World War II in the U.S. Army Air Force as an Armorer, Airplane and honorably earned six bronze stars, good conduct medal, three overseas service bars, victory ribbon and entitled to wear European-Africian-Middle Eastern theatre campaign ribbon. Gene was formerly a member of the Happy Hill Church of God in Butler–then he and daughter Gwen moved to Belton, Missouri in 2016 where he attended South Haven Baptist Church. Gene was saved at the age of six and was a life long follower of Jesus Christ.
Gene was loving and kind, but had an amazing humorous side. He loved music, enjoyed football and baseball and spent hours reading the Bible and devotionals. He was never too busy to spend time with his children and grandchildren and knew that having strong relationships meant spending time together.
Gene is survived by two daughters, Gwen Boone of Belton, Missouri and Jean Mohrman and husband Lou of Hillsboro, Missouri; one son, Kenneth Boone and wife Barb of Urich, Missouri; eight grandchildren, Dustin, Sarah, Joshua, Aaron, Gretchen, Melissa, Dale and Nicole; and eight great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Martha Boone; two brothers, Bob Boone and Dale Boone; and two sisters, Camille Chronister and Earline Grizzard.
