Volume 12 , Issue 11

Eulogy To My Brother Gene - by Little Brother Bob

[OkieLegacy Editor's Note: The following eulogy is not about my father, Gene McGill, formerly of NW Oklahoma. Nor is it about his younger brother, Robert. But ... I find it interesting that there were two sets of brothers with the same exact names -- one set in NW Oklahoma and the other set in Southern Kansas. And ? We have found no relationship between the two sets of brothers. ]

Robert "Bob" McGill of California sent us this Eulogy for his older brother Gene McGill, who died recently in Arkansas.

Eulogy for Gene

"It is sad to lose a loved one -- but I think Gene would not want us to be sad and mourn his passing. I believe he would rather have us celebrate his life.

"I knew him as my big brother, hero, mentor, protector, friend, and sometimes tormentor. Having Gene as a big brother helped make me the person I am today.

"He taught me how to ride a horse, when I was about 3, by putting me on an old brown mare we had and turned her loose --- well she headed back to the barn via going under the clothes line leaving me behind. He and his buddy Bucky taught me how to swim by throwing me into the Arkansas river and watching me struggle to stay afloat. I was the little guy they would try new dare-devil homemade rides on like tying a rope with an old pulley with a tire hanging from it to the top of the barn and the other end to a tree 50 yards or so away. Well, sir that was one heck of a ride as I flew down the rope hanging on to that old tire for dear life. I lived to tell the story and the old adage " what doesn't kill you makes you stronger" proved true.

"It was a sad day when he was drafted into the Army. I sure missed him ...but was sure proud of him when came home on leave with a 101 Airborne Screaming Eagles uniform. He was on his way to Korea.

"He served his country with pride. He came home and did what most GIs did...built a life and family.

"I will miss him. I am the last of my birth family --- but our family lives on through our kids. The McGill's are from the proud Scotch - Irish heritage --- be proud of this heritage and live a good life... for that is the best way to pay homage to our beloved father, Grandfather, Uncle, brother, and friend Gene."
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