Gene Hisey

Gene Hisey, age 93, of Enid, formerly of Hunter, OK, passed away on Saturday, October 10, 2020. Gene was born on August 25, 1927 in Hunter, Oklahoma to John Everett and Gladys Ann (Cogswell) Hisey. The funeral service for Gene will be at 10:30 a.m., Friday, October 16, 2020, at Anderson-Burris Funeral Home in Enid, Oklahoma with the Reverend Jim Edmison officiating. Burial will follow in the White Cemetery at Hunter. Viewing is from 8 a.m. - 8 pm. on Wednesday and Thursday. Visitation with the family will precede the service on Friday, starting at 9:00 a.m. and ending at 10:00 a.m. Gene grew up in Hunter and graduated from Hunter High School in 1945. After graduation, Gene farmed and worked on the construction of the Union Equity Grain Elevator in Enid. Gene enlisted in the United States Army with his twin brother, Dean. They served from 1946-1947 in Ft. Belvoir, VA. After an honorable discharge, Gene came back to Hunter and continued to farm wheat in the Hunter community for 40 years. Gene was raised during the depression and because of that, he was very frugal and worked very hard for his family. He instilled those same values in his children while raising them on the “home place”. Gene met the woman he would marry, Norma June Foltz (fondly known as Junie), on the tennis court in Hunter. On June 5, 1949, Gene and Norma were married at Davis Park Christian Church in Enid and they made their home on a farm near Hunter. In 1976, they moved in to the town of Hunter and they lived there until moving to Enid in 2017. Gene and Norma celebrated their 71st wedding anniversary in June 2020. Gene worked for for the Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service (ASCS) for 23 years. He started in 1960 as a reporter in the field then as a program assistant and finally as field compliance officer. As a field compliance officer, he loved visiting and taking care of farmers who came to the office. He could tell his children and grandchildren where every farmer’s land in the county was located. After retiring from the ASCS office, he continued to farm with his son John and helped him with the livestock. Beginning in the early 80’s, Gene began taking his children and grandchildren snow skiing in New Mexico and Colorado. He LOVED this tradition and it continued for many years. On his final ski trip when he was 80, he skied with his oldest great-grandson in New Mexico. Gene and Norma loved to travel and took their children and grandchildren with them on many trips in the states and abroad. Gene and Norma became members of the Hunter United Methodist Church soon after they were married. Gene helped build the church and he loved singing in the choir along with Norma. They were asked to sing for many funerals and other church events. He was also involved in the Methodist Men’s Group and supported the church in many other activities. Gene and Norma participated in the Volunteers in Missions (VIM) through the Methodist Church. They went on a mission trip with other church members to Alaska, Guatemala, Mexico (4 trips), and Israel. Gene never knew a stranger and “could make friends with a fence post”. Gene had to be doing something all the time and one of his part-time jobs was being a salesman. At various times, he sold Amway, Mason Shoes, Man-an-so fertilizer, and various other products. Gene always supported his children and grandchildren and attended all of their activities. He loved having his family together for holidays and other family occasions. While they were visiting him, he loved swinging with them on the porch swing. Gene was an avid sports fan and loved the St. Louis Cardinals baseball team and the Thunder basketball team. In his early years, he attended the OSU men’s basketball games with friends from Hunter during the tenure of Henry Iba. He also attended St. Louis Cardinals’ games in St. Louis with friends and family and one of the highlights of attending Cardinals’ game was to attend at a few of the World Series games. He was a member of the Rural Rotatory Club, Gideons International, Hunter Senior Citizens, and served on the Autry Vo-Tech Board. Gene is survived by his wife Norma and his 4 children: Deborah Robinson of Pond Creek, Kent Hisey of Enid, John Hisey (Susan) of Hunter, and Darla Hisey of Stillwater; 8 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; and 1 great-great-granddaughter. He was preceded in death by his twin brother Dean Hisey, sister Jennie Campbell, and his daughter-in-law Janis Hisey. Memorials may be made through Anderson-Burris to Gideons International.

Gene Hisey

August 25, 1927 - October 10, 2020