G. D. "Gene" Bush

G. D. “Gene” Bush, age 83, died peacefully on May 14, 2016 at his home in Beaumont, Texas surrounded by his family.

A gathering of family and friends will be held Wednesday, May 18, 2016 from 5-7 p.m. at Claybar Funeral Home. A funeral service will follow on Thursday, May 19, 2016 at 2:00 p.m. also at Claybar Funeral Home. Burial in his hometown of Whitewright, Texas will take place Saturday at 2:00 p.m.


Gene was born May 10, 1933 in the North Texas farming community of Whitewright to William Vaden and Emma Evaline (Donihoo) Bush.

Gene grew up working on the family farm and graduated from Whitewright High School in 1950.

He moved to Washington, D. C. and eventually became a courier for the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). One of his proudest moments was meeting and shaking hands with head of the FBI, J. Edgar Hoover.

Later, Gene worked for the General Electric Corp. for 20 years as a regional representative covering several states. Locating permanently in Beaumont, he raised a family and eventually became involved in the Funeral Pre-Planning profession.

Among Gene’s favorite pastimes was attending the Saturday morning coffee club he organized years previously at Rao’s Bakery on Dowlen Road in Beaumont, Various VIPs dropped in from time to time to visit and kibitz with Gene and his regulars. A good time was always had by all as world problems were solved, or at least ironed out for another week.

Gene loved his chosen hometown of Beaumont and served on many boards and in many capacities in his effort to improve the community. For many years Gene served on the Beaumont Crime Stoppers and was a current member of the Beaumont Police Advisory Board. He also served as a board member for Girls Haven. Gene was an Honorary Admiral of the Texas Navy.

Always a fun-loving guy, Gene was the originator of cook-off competitions when he started the Gene Bush Chili Cook-Off competitions in Beaumont during the 1970s.

Last but not least, if you were Gene Bush’s friend, you remained a friend no matter what.


Predeceased by his parents, Gene is survived by his daughter, Teresa Ann Barker and her husband, Spencer, of Columbia, South Carolina; sons, Michael G. Bush and his wife, Tammy of Buna, Texas and John D. Bush and his wife, Charlotte, of Magnolia Springs, Texas; grandchildren, Sommer Streett and her husband, Chris, Joseph Barker and Cory Bush; great-grandchildren, Amiyah Bush and Isabella Streett; sister, Phyllis Carol Bush Taylor, brother-in-law, Dale Taylor, his beloved dog Sophie and many longtime friends.

In lieu of flowers donations in memory of Gene may be made to Girls Haven, 3380 Fannin Street, Beaumont, Texas 77701.