Obituary of Eugene A Mears

Eugene A. Mears passed away on Monday, July 23, 2018 at his summer home on Hunter Lake in Parksville, NY. Gene, the son of Eugene M. Mears and Christina Mears (Weber), was born in Livingston Manor, NY on December 7, 1930. He was known affectionately to many as "Bubby." Gene graduated from Livingston Manor High School in 1950. He proudly joined the army in 1951 serving with the 12th AAA Group in Karlsruhe, Germany from 1951 to 1954. He took the opportunity to travel extensively through Europe and was selected to serve in the parade Color Guard honoring Dwight D Eisenhower in Paris, France in 1952. After his return home he married his wife of 63 years, Mary Lou (Bowers). They moved to Long Island and started their family. Gene, a member of the IBEW, worked as a licensed electrician at various companies including Anheuser-Busch brewery. Gene and Mary Lou moved back to Sullivan County in 1970 and settled in Liberty. There, Gene started his own business, Mears Electrical Service. Following his retirement, Gene and MaryLou enjoyed a fulfilling life pursuing boating, fishing and various hobbies on N Hutchinson Island, FL. He was active in his community as a member of the Liberty Elks Lodge and also served as president of the Tri-Valley Central School Board. Gene was a recreational pilot and a member of the AOPA and the Young Eagles. Gene enjoyed hunting and fishing, and was a member of the Black Hawk Hunting Camp. He was known to always have a home project in the works. Although an electrician by trade, he had the ability to do all the construction disciplines. With amazing patience, he was well known by his family as having the ability to figure anything out. He was predeceased by his parents, his sister Jean Summerson, NJ and his brother John Mears, CA. He is survived by his wife Mary Lou Mears whom he married on May 15, 1955; and his daughters Elise Schulte (Fred) of Palm Beach Gardens, FL and Pamela Boyd (Jeff) of Naples, FL; his grandchildren Ryan Briggs of Port St Lucie, FL, Christopher Briggs ( Samantha) of Fuquay-Varina, NC, Kaitlyn Briggs of Raleigh, NC, Matthew Arielly of Boston, MA, Katie Boyd of Beacon, NY, Alex Boyd of Jay, ME, John Schulte of Carlsbad, CA, Scott Schulte (Jessica) of New Paltz, NY and a great-granddaughter Sienna Grace of Fuquay Varina. He is also survived by his sister Dorothy Huff of Pawling, NY and a brother George Mears of Orange, CA. He is also survived by a loving grand extended family including the families of Bowers, Hartling, Knox, Magie, Summerson and Cummings. Donations in Gene's name can be made to Wounded Veterans Relief Fund, www.wvrf.org, 1335 Old Dixie Highway, #3, Lake Park, FL 33403 or another veterans' organization of one's choice. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, July 25th from 2pm to 4pm and 7pm to 9pm at Colonial-Bryant Funeral Home 29 Pearl Street, Livingston Manor. A funeral service will be held on Thursday, July 26th at 10:00am at the funeral home. Rev. Walter Haff will officiate. Burial will follow at Lew Beach Cemetery with full military honors. Arrangements under the care of Colonial-Bryant Funeral Home, for further information call 845-439-4333 or visit www.colonialbryantfuneralhome.com