Gene Thompson

David Eugene "Gene" Thompson, 75, of Scott City went to be with the Lord on Friday, Dec. 7, 2012, at his home, surrounded by loved ones.

He was born Aug. 19, 1937, in Wittenberg, Mo., to Martin Rudolph "Rudy" and Ruie Evelyn Thompson. He and P. Faye McAlister were married Sept. 9, 1963, in Perkins, Mo.

Gene graduated from Illmo-Fornfelt High School in 1955.

He served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1956 to 1959. Upon his return from the Marines, he began working for the Cottonbelt/SSW Railroad where he was a locomotive engineer until 1983, at which time he was elected general chairman of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers. He retired in 2000.

Gene enjoyed playing golf and was a member of Kimbeland Country Club. He also enjoyed hunting and playing cards with friends, and was a die-hard St. Louis Cardinals baseball fan. He was a member of Illmo Baptist Church. Gene was very active in his community. He served as a volunteer fireman for the city of Illmo, coached Little League, Babe Ruth and Senior Babe Ruth during the 1970s.

He served as Illmo Youth League commissioner from 1976 to 1978 and on the Scott City Police Board. He also served as local chairman for Division 442 of Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers from 1974 to 1983 upon his election to general chairman. He and fellow engineer and friend, John Counts, established the first Operation Life Saver/Railroad Crossing Safety Program for Southeast Missouri and Northeast Arkansas. He served on the Scott City School Board until the time of his death.

Gene will be remembered by his friends and family as someone always willing to help those in need.

Loving survivors include his wife of 49 years; a son, Brad (Lara) Thompson of Scott City; a daughter, Sonya (Tommy) Miller of Scott City; five brothers, Frankie (Glenda) Thompson of Seneca, Ill., Robert (Bev) Thompson, Tommy (Stephanie) Thompson, Glenn (Susie) Thompson, all of Ottawa, Ill., and Richard (Diane) Thompson of McClure, Ill.; two sisters, Shirley Alexander of Kissimmee, Fla., and Delores Henry of Peru, Ill.; six grandchildren, Heidi Thompson of Chicago, Kelsey Thompson of Boca Raton, Fla., Danyelle Pate of Cape Girardeau, Madison Thompson of Scott City, Ryan Miller of Sikeston, Mo., and Myriah Miller of Scott City.

He was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers, Donald, Rudy and Virgil Thompson; and a sister, Cynthia Thompson.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Amick-Burnett Funeral Home in Scott City.

The funeral will be at 1 p.m. Friday at Illmo Baptist Church in Scott City, with the Rev. Randy Morse and a son-in-law, Tommy Miller, officiating. Burial will be in Lightner Memorial Cemetery in Scott City.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Scott City Food Pantry, 312 Dearborn, Scott City, MO 63780, or Melaina's Magical Playland, c/o Melaina Cunningham and Friends Park Fund Inc., P.O. Box 211, Cape Girardeau, MO 63702.

www.amick-burnettfuneralchapels.com