Funeral services for Gene Mayo, 87, of Chickasha will be held at 2:00 p.m., Monday, August 17, 2015, at the Fairlawn Cemetery, with Michael Butler of the First Baptist Church officiating.
Gene Mayo went home to be with the Lord on August 13, 2015, at his home in Chickasha. He was born July 28, 1928, to Bonnie and Emmert Mayo and was brother to Pat Charvoz who preceded him in death and Jayne Ann Patterson of Edmond.
Gene graduated from Chickasha High School and after graduation, enlisted in the U. S. Army. He served in the reconnaissance force that occupied Japan after their surrender. Gene often spoke of the trip to Japan in a transport ship as an experience he had never imagined. He was proud to be able to contribute to the service and support of his country, but he was also profoundly saddened by the physical evidence of war. He married the girl of his dreams, Ada Mae Venable, on June 30, 1949. Together, they had two daughters, Sally Robertson, of Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Karen Mayo-Albrecht and husband Richard Albrecht of Tyler, Texas. They have four grandchildren, Gigi Smallwood, Joe and wife Lisa Robertson, Ryan Albrecht, and Bonnie Culpepper and husband, Adam. They have great-grandchildren, Luke Smallwood, Elle and Liam Robertson, Christian Albrecht and Ethan Culpepper.
Gene owned and worked with his father Emmert, Mayo Tire Service, located on Chickasha Avenue. Enjoying an early retirement at 47, he developed his golf game at the Chickasha Country Club, and spent many hours playing with friends. At 50, he decided to apply at the new General Motors Plant in Oklahoma City, and worked for the next ten years as a quality control supervisor on the production line.
Gene and Ada Mae enjoyed traveling but their favorite place was Mayo Cabin, 40 miles out of Gunnison, Colorado, and in the Powderhorn Valley. Gene loved to fish and spent hours every summer fly fishing all over the valley. He was also a man who loved to laugh! He is famous among his family members and friends for the “Battle with the Skunk” at the cabin…unfortunately, the skunk lost his life, but he left his essence with Gene! The experience became a video which we all have laughed at many times.
After Ada Mae passed away in 2007, Gene then learned to take care of himself and enjoyed his mornings on the back yard patio and time watching television. He loved spending time with his daughter, Sally, who was his special Sooner Pal.
Gene will be sorely missed by his family, but the thought that he and Ada Mae are once again united is a comfort and joy to all.
The family wishes to express their heartfelt appreciation for the multitudes of loving phone calls and expressions of concern.
Services and interment at Fairlawn Cemetery are under the direction of Ferguson Funeral Home.