Richard Eugene "Gene" Highfill's Obituary
Richard Eugene Highfill of Fort Myers, Florida, better known simply as "Gene" by his family and friends, passed away peacefully at his residence on Sunday, October 20, 2024. He was 96 years old.
Gene was born in Cherokee, Oklahoma on July 26, 1928, the proud son to Mattie Goldie (Mitchell) and John Wesley Highfill. At the age of 2, his family moved to Friona, Texas where he began elementary school. In 1936 his family moved to Arkansas where he graduated from Si!oam Springs High School in 1946. After high school Gene served in the Air Force as a radio operator. He was based in Japan and had duties throughout the western Pacific region. He started college in 1949 under the GI Bill. He met Ann Mason during his freshman year. They were married June 1, 1950. Gene graduated in 1953 from the University of Arkansas with a Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Engineering. He began working for the federal Soil Conservation Service (SCS) as an Area Engineer in Erie and !oIa, Kansas, in 1953. In 1960 he became watershed planning engineer at Salina, Kansas, and in 1961 he accepted the job of Project Engineer for Watersheds in Atchison and Sedan, Kansas., In 1966 he went to Washington, DC, as a recreation specialist for the Bureau of Outdoor Recreation. From that job he accepted the position of Assistant State Engineer with SCS at Champaign, IL; from 1970 through 1972 he was ASTC for Watersheds at Champaign. In 1972 he took the job of Watershed Planning Engineer at SCS Headquarters. From 1974 until he retired in 1983, Gene served as National Agricultural Engineer. He retired from SCS on July 30, 1983. Following retirement from Federal service, Gene continued to devote his talents to soil and water conservation issues around the country and the world. He worked on conservation projects and plans for Lesotho and Zambia in Africa and Saint Kitts in the Leeward Islands. He worked as Business Manager/Treasurer for Baptist Missions in Macau. And, for 26 years, he prepared income tax returns — first for H and R Block then for AARP as a volunteer. Gene also served in the US Air Force Reserve as a civil engineer; he retired July 31, 1977, with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.
Gene leaves to cherish his memory his beloved wife Ann of the home; his treasured children Sharon (John) Farrar, Karen Baker and John (Linda) Highfill. He also leaves behind 12 Grandchildren, 22 Great Grandchildren, 2 Great-Great Grandchildren; his sister Mary (H.D.) Sharp of Sachse, Texas, many extended family members and countless others who were proud to call Gene a friend. Sadly, he was preceded in passing by his daughter Terry Highfill and his parents.
Immediate funeral ceremonies for Gene are private. Arrangements for his final care have been entrusted to Fort Myers Memorial Gardens Funeral Home, 1589 Colonial Boulevard, Fort Myers, Florida 33907, (239) 936-0555. Cremation rites will be accorded and Gene will thereafter be laid to rest inside the Sylvan Terrace Section at Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Fort Myers.
To share a story or photo, leave a tribute or to offer condolences to the family at this difficult time, please visit Gene's memorial webpage at www.fortmyersmemorial.com and sign his guestbook.
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