Eugene Wallace

Eugene "Gene" S. Wallace passed away Thursday, March 14, 2019, at Shepherd of the Valley nursing home from complications of Lewy Body Dementia. Gene was born in Casper, Wyoming, on October 30, 1952, to A. T. and Julia Wallace. He grew up in Casper and Lander, Wyoming, where his family owned the Red Canyon Cattle Ranch, south of Lander.

Gene graduated from Natrona County High School in 1971. In 1974, he married Connie Moreland, his high school sweetheart, and they have enjoyed 44 years of wonderful marriage. In 1975, Gene and Connie moved to Bozeman, Montana, where he graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Economics and a Master's Degree in Industrial Engineering from Montana State University. With degrees in hand in 1980, both Gene and Connie were employed by Conoco, and they first moved to Ponca City, Oklahoma, and later they spent eleven years in Houston, Texas. While in Houston, Gene was able to achieve a lifelong dream of attending law school and graduated with a Doctor of Jurisprudence in 2002. The couple returned home to Casper in 2007, where Gene worked in the Planning Department of Natrona County before retirement in 2015.

During his high school and college years, Gene worked as a radio disc jockey at KATI in Casper and KBMN in Bozeman and continued to enjoy music throughout his life. An avid reader, he particularly enjoyed studying the Bible and books written by his grandfather and religious scholar, Foy E. Wallace, Jr. Gene had a number of hobbies in life which included collecting "militaria", early cavalry uniforms, saddles and equipment. He especially enjoyed army shoulder patches from World War I and II, and attended militaria shows whenever he had the opportunity. In his early years he was an expert horseman and also participated in high school rodeo, competing in bareback bronc riding. A lifelong competitive rifle shooter, Gene took part in many high-power matches with his father-in-law and friends in Texas and New Mexico. Finally, Gene had a great love for the black Labrador retrievers which were always a big part of the Wallace home.

Gene was preceded in death by his father, mother, and beloved nephew, Ian. He is survived by his loving wife, Connie; brother, Dob (Teresa); sister Pat (Ken) Anderson; brother Jeb (Jolene); nephews Graham (Kayla) and Will; and nieces Julia and Micki. He is also survived by his brother-in-law, H.B. (Nancy) Moreland; nephews Mitchell and Daniel; and niece Katherine. Two Labrador Retrievers, Annie and Blue, will mourn his loss.

Services for Gene will be at the Newcomer Casper Chapel on Wednesday, March 20, 2019 at 1:00 p.m. Afterwards his ashes will be interred near his parents and a nephew, Ian Anderson, at the Alva Cemetery in Alva, Wyoming.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Alzheimer's Association, American Diabetes Association or to the Wyoming Special Olympics.

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