Downs Funeral Home 4608 Elysian Fields Rd Marshall , Texas 75672 (903) 927-1700 Fax (903) 927-1282 Gene Baxter A Celebration of the Life of Gene Baxter, 76 of Marshall will be held at 11:00 a.m., Thursday, March 17, 2011 in the Chapel of Downs Funeral Home with Bob Bryant officiating. Burial will follow in Colonial Gardens Cemetery in Marshall , Texas . The family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m., Wednesday, March 16th at the Downs Funeral Home. Gene was called home from this temporary earthly journey on March 13, 2011 and now calls Heaven his home with The Lord Jesus Christ. He was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters Helen Maxwell and Hazel Jeanette Hodges, two brothers Jerry Lynn and Edward Baxter, and nephew Tony Maxwell. Gene was born on October 26, 1934 to Eugene Grady Baxter and Amy Lurline Capps Baxter at their home in Rosborough Springs. He was educated in the Ft. Worth school system in his early years, along with the Marshall school system in early and later years. His years at Marshall High School were some of his best years and graduated in 1953. Gene was an excellent basketball player and was nicknamed "Goose" because of the "hook" shot he mastered imitating Goose Tatum (a basketball player of great renown). Gene received an athletic scholarship from several colleges, but in order to remain in Marshall to help with his Mom and Dad, he chose ETBC. It was shortly after this time that he met his soon to be "wife", Frankie. They were married in January 1954, lasting 57 years. This marriage produced two daughters Vicki Lynn Byers of Hermitage, Tennessee , and Lesli Ann McGill-Ashy of Franklin , Tennessee . Grandchildren born to Vicki Lynn include Tyran Elizabeth Thiele (Tim), Corie Lynn Tyler (Brian), Amy Jeanette Byers, Geneva Kathryn Byers and Robert Gene Byers; born to Lesli Ann include Dana McGill and Jeffery McGill. Seven great grandchildren are Tanner, Addison , Jordan , Benjamin, Hayden, Lilley, and Bishop. Gene served in the National Guard located in Marshall for seven years. He retired from being the owner of two Amoco Convenience Markets in 1996, and was president of TRGDA (Tennessee Retail Gasoline Dealers Association) for a short period of time and also selected as "Boss of the Year" by ABWA. After living in Nashville for almost 30 years, moved "back home" to Marshall, where he attended Cypress Valley Bible Church and Wednesday morning Bible Study, which had given him great joy. He loved both immensely. He attended regularly until his illness prevented him from going. Gene is survived by his loving and devoted wife Frankie, two daughters Vicki Lynn Byers and Lesli Ann McGill-Ashy, seven grandchildren, seven great grandchildren, several cousins, three nieces Carolyn Bohnas, Tracy Thomason, Kim Hodges Fidler, and one great niece Tonya Streeter, all of Ft. Worth , Texas . Pallbearers will be Jack McGeorge, Bo Byers, Hulen Hale, Sammy Hudson, Brian Tyler, and Jeff McGill.