The Herald Democrat
 May 19, 2011

GORDONVILLE - H.E. "Gene" Abernathy, Jr., Chief Petty Officer, Navy (Ret.), was born on July 19, 1942 and died on May 17, 2011.
Visitation will be held Friday, May 20, 2011 from 6-8 p.m.
Funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, May 21, 2001 at Meador Funeral Home Chapel in Whitesboro. Interment will be at Oakwood Cemetery.
Gene Abernathy served more than 20 years in the U.S. Navy from 1959-1980 as well as serving during the Vietnam War. He became a chief petty officer while stationed in Georgia and was very proud of this achievement.
Gene was also an avid and proficient golfer, acquiring his golf professional status with the PGA. He went on to manage and operate golf courses for the state of Oklahoma at Lake Texoma and Quartz Mountain, eventually retiring from the state. After leaving Oklahoma, he managed Willow Bend golf course in Wichita, Kan. as the golf professional.
During and between these two careers, he worked for the U.S. Postal Service for a time as well as being a gifted mechanic. He went on to own and operate his own shop in Gordonville. He also worked for Holiday Chevrolet and Raney Ford of Whitesboro.
Gene, as he was usually called, often worked two jobs along with maintaining his careers. He had an unstoppable desire to provide for his family and a very strong work ethic.
He loved his family and always made sure they were taken care of. He was very much loved and will be missed always.
He was preceded death by his father and mother, H.E. Abernathy, Sr. and Willie Abernathy.
He is survived by his wife Linda Abernathy; son Bruce Abernathy and wife Janice; daughter Karen McFarlin and husband Don; son Mark Abernathy and wife Jana; grandchildren Brooke Russell and husband Adam, Jesse Abernathy, Trace Abernathy, and Aaron Abernathy; great-grandchildren, Adisyn and Miley Russell; his sister Frances Troth; and many nieces and nephews.