Gene LaFont

Samuel Gene LaFont, 94, of Cape Girardeau peacefully passed away Sunday, Feb. 5, 2017, at Saint Francis Medical Center.

He was born Sunday, Dec. 17, 1922, in Portageville, Missouri, beloved son of Samuel Lee and Lula Dillenger LaFont.

He was baptized at and was a member of St. Eustachius Catholic Church in Portageville, and was a member of the Knights of Columbus.

Gene served in World War II as a paratrooper and was a staff sergeant. After his military service, he returned home to operate LaFont Cafe and service station in Portageville. In 1977, he moved to Cape Girardeau and operated LaFont Auto Sales.

After retirement, he was a volunteer with Meals on Wheels through the Cape Girardeau Senior Center. Gene’s great loves were his family and dancing every Saturday night. He was known around town as “Gene, Gene, the dancing machine.”

Gene was father to Rick and Pat (Terry) LaFont; grandfather to Lance (Tara) LaFont; stepgrandfather to Jared (Ashley) Brewer; great-grandfather to Brie and Wesley Claire LaFont; brother to Harry, Bub and Eileen; and uncle to John (Sandy) and Steven (Valerie) LaFont.

A funeral Mass will be at noon Feb. 20 at St. Eustachius Catholic Church in Portageville.

A tribute to Gene’s life will be at a later date at the Venue in Cape Girardeau.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the Cape Girardeau Senior Center, 921 N. Clark Ave., Cape Girardeau, MO 63701.

Online condolences may be made at www.fordandsonsfuneralhome.com.

Ford and Sons Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.