Gene Bryant

Gene Bryant, 82, Coffeyville, KS, died Wednesday night, December 31, 2008 at Cherryvale Care Center, Cherryvale, Kansas. Gene was born December 23, 1926 at San Antonio, Texas to Frank Bryant and Ina Mae Jones Bryant. The family moved to Coffeyville when Gene was a child. He grew up and attended school there. He joined the U.S. Army towards the end of World War II and also served during the Korean Conflict. Gene was stationed in Okinawa, Japan and attained the rank of sargeant and was a tailgunner. After completion of his military career, Gene returned to Coffeyville and worked in the US Ammunition Plant in Parsons, Kansas. He married Maxine Whinery on March 29, 1954. She preceded him in death on November 29, 1991. The Bryants moved to Waukesha, Wisconsin and Gene took a job drilling water wells for Milligers Drilling of Milwaukee. The couple moved to Twin Falls, Idaho for two years. There Gene and a brother-in-law owned and operated their own water well drilling company. In 1968, the Bryants were back in Coffeyville and Gene took a job as an operator with Sherwin-Williams. He also worked for Coffeyville Community College in the maintenance department. He returned to Sherwin-Williams and worked another 10 years in security for the company. Gene was a member of Crossroads Community of Christ Church, north of Dearing, Kansas and a member of the Coffeyville VFW Post 1022. He enjoyed quail and rabbit hunting, fishing and camping. Gene was an avid Red Raven fan. He is survived by three sons, Dennis Bryant, Sr. and his wife, Bonnie of Winfield, Kansas, Rick Bryant of South Coffeyville, Oklahoma and Terry Bryant of Cherryvale, Kansas; one daughter, Karen Smith and her husband, Dana of Benton, Kansas; seven grandchildren, Michael and Jeffery Dobson, Dennis Bryant, Jr., Michelle Ledford, Amanda Byrd, Chris Bryant and Bryson Fredrick; and seven great-grandchildren, Derek and Austin Bryant, Bryce, Braden and Calie Ledford and Ethan and Ashton Byrd. Gene was preceded in death by his parents; one daughter, Shirley Renee Dobson; by five sisters, Leota Lang, Pearl Morrison, Frances Bennet, Lucille Page and Mae Cline; and by one grandson, Davy Dobson. Funeral service for Gene Bryant will be 2:00 pm, Monday, January 5, 2009 at Crossroads Community of Christ Church with Pastor Margie Miller officiating. Interment will be in Penwell-Gabels Restlawn Memorial Park Cemetery under the direction of Penwell-Gabel Ford-Wulf-Bruns Chapel. Military rites will be accorded Mr. Bryant by VFW Post 1022. Friends may call at the funeral home, Sunday, 1-5 p.m. The family suggests that friends who wish donate to the Humane Society or the SPCA in care of the funeral home.