1938
Eugene
2016
Eugene Tuley
October 12, 1938 — December 4, 2016
EUGENE P. TULEY
October 12, 1938 – December 4, 2016
Eugene (Gene) P. Tuley passed away peacefully on Sunday, December 4th at 7 pm at Olathe Hospice House, surrounded by loving family members. He died as he lived: bravely, stoically and with dignity and grace. He was 78 years old.
A memorial service will be held at 6 pm on Monday, December 12th at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, 21155 College Boulevard, Olathe, KS, followed by a brief reception. Please come join us to pay your respects and celebrate this special man’s life.
Gene was born on October 12, 1938, in Kansas City, KS to Edward and Marie Tuley. Soon thereafter his family moved to the Olathe area where they became one of the founding members of St. Mark’s Lutheran Church. Gene graduated from Olathe High School in 1956 (where he met his future bride, Naydeen). Together, they considered themselves two of the true “Old Settlers” of Olathe.
Gene is survived by his high school sweetheart and loving wife of 57 years, Naydeen, their son Jerry Tuley (and grandson Jaxson) of Chicago and grandson Conner of Clinton, MO, their daughter Linda (and Greg) Westbrook of Kansas City and grandchildren Lindsey Willard of San Diego, Randy Willard of St. Louis, Alyssa Hanes and Greer Westbrook of Kansas City.
Gene accomplished a great many things in his life, but what he may be best known for was simply being a genuinely good and kind person…a true gentleman and quite gentle soul. He loved his family and took great pride in them.
His 53-year professional career was in the floral business: Tobler’s Flowers. He was one of their first delivery drivers, then made arrangements, managed stores and ultimately bought the business and grew it into a multi-location operation in the Kansas City area, serving the community with quality and pride. Gene sold the business and retired in 2009. Doing the right thing…and doing things right were important to Gene.
Gene also had a significant career with the Boy Scouts of America Troop 86. He became an Eagle Scout and a member of the Order of the Arrow in 1954 and mentored countless others to achieve those distinctions over the years. He served as Troop 86 Scoutmaster from 1977 to 1982, and earned the prestigious Silver Beaver Award in 1975, along with Honorary Warrior (Adult Mic-O-Say) in 1981 and was Treasurer of Troop 86 since 1976. Even in his final year he was helping young scouts with merit badges, participating in campouts, assisting with Eagle projects and more. His leadership and mentoring will truly be missed. He was also a historian for the Council, contributing countless framed memorabilia items to the Great House at Camp Naish over the years (including the week of his death). Gene believed in honor and duty, God and country. He always did his best to help other people at all times, and kept himself physically strong, mentally awake and morally straight. And for those efforts and more, he has rightfully earned a place in a Great House of his own.
Service and duty continued into retirement as Gene and Naydeen also served at the Johnson County Election Office for many years where they enjoyed meeting people and making new friends. Gene was civic-minded and truly enjoyed the work and the opportunity to contribute.
In recent years, he and his daughter Linda also embarked on an extensive genealogy project, researching and tracking down important ancestry information about the Tuley family. These efforts took them to all over Missouri, northern and southern California, and also New Albany, Indiana, where they came across a treasure trove of information and shared wonderful experiences together. Their efforts resulted in documentation of the Tuley family tree all the way back to the 1600’s.
Gene loved to go places and do things…and one of his favorite spots to visit was the San Diego area where he and family enjoyed the warm weather, beautiful sunsets, the flower fields of Carlsbad, a craft beer (or two) and a special treat from “Extraordinary Desserts.” One such special trip was just this past August. Wonderful memories were made.
Gene had such a positive impact on the lives of others. He was loved and respected by so many people and he will be missed greatly. He was a good husband, dad, grandpa, neighbor, colleague and friend. Gene Tuley was truly one of a kind. He made a difference and his life mattered.
The family requests you consider a donation in Gene’s memory to the Olathe Hospice House at www.olathehealth.org/donations where true angels on Earth cared for him in his final days, or to the Heart of America Council/Boy Scouts of America at www.hoac-bsa.org.
October 12, 1938 – December 4, 2016
Eugene (Gene) P. Tuley passed away peacefully on Sunday, December 4th at 7 pm at Olathe Hospice House, surrounded by loving family members. He died as he lived: bravely, stoically and with dignity and grace. He was 78 years old.
A memorial service will be held at 6 pm on Monday, December 12th at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, 21155 College Boulevard, Olathe, KS, followed by a brief reception. Please come join us to pay your respects and celebrate this special man’s life.
Gene was born on October 12, 1938, in Kansas City, KS to Edward and Marie Tuley. Soon thereafter his family moved to the Olathe area where they became one of the founding members of St. Mark’s Lutheran Church. Gene graduated from Olathe High School in 1956 (where he met his future bride, Naydeen). Together, they considered themselves two of the true “Old Settlers” of Olathe.
Gene is survived by his high school sweetheart and loving wife of 57 years, Naydeen, their son Jerry Tuley (and grandson Jaxson) of Chicago and grandson Conner of Clinton, MO, their daughter Linda (and Greg) Westbrook of Kansas City and grandchildren Lindsey Willard of San Diego, Randy Willard of St. Louis, Alyssa Hanes and Greer Westbrook of Kansas City.
Gene accomplished a great many things in his life, but what he may be best known for was simply being a genuinely good and kind person…a true gentleman and quite gentle soul. He loved his family and took great pride in them.
His 53-year professional career was in the floral business: Tobler’s Flowers. He was one of their first delivery drivers, then made arrangements, managed stores and ultimately bought the business and grew it into a multi-location operation in the Kansas City area, serving the community with quality and pride. Gene sold the business and retired in 2009. Doing the right thing…and doing things right were important to Gene.
Gene also had a significant career with the Boy Scouts of America Troop 86. He became an Eagle Scout and a member of the Order of the Arrow in 1954 and mentored countless others to achieve those distinctions over the years. He served as Troop 86 Scoutmaster from 1977 to 1982, and earned the prestigious Silver Beaver Award in 1975, along with Honorary Warrior (Adult Mic-O-Say) in 1981 and was Treasurer of Troop 86 since 1976. Even in his final year he was helping young scouts with merit badges, participating in campouts, assisting with Eagle projects and more. His leadership and mentoring will truly be missed. He was also a historian for the Council, contributing countless framed memorabilia items to the Great House at Camp Naish over the years (including the week of his death). Gene believed in honor and duty, God and country. He always did his best to help other people at all times, and kept himself physically strong, mentally awake and morally straight. And for those efforts and more, he has rightfully earned a place in a Great House of his own.
Service and duty continued into retirement as Gene and Naydeen also served at the Johnson County Election Office for many years where they enjoyed meeting people and making new friends. Gene was civic-minded and truly enjoyed the work and the opportunity to contribute.
In recent years, he and his daughter Linda also embarked on an extensive genealogy project, researching and tracking down important ancestry information about the Tuley family. These efforts took them to all over Missouri, northern and southern California, and also New Albany, Indiana, where they came across a treasure trove of information and shared wonderful experiences together. Their efforts resulted in documentation of the Tuley family tree all the way back to the 1600’s.
Gene loved to go places and do things…and one of his favorite spots to visit was the San Diego area where he and family enjoyed the warm weather, beautiful sunsets, the flower fields of Carlsbad, a craft beer (or two) and a special treat from “Extraordinary Desserts.” One such special trip was just this past August. Wonderful memories were made.
Gene had such a positive impact on the lives of others. He was loved and respected by so many people and he will be missed greatly. He was a good husband, dad, grandpa, neighbor, colleague and friend. Gene Tuley was truly one of a kind. He made a difference and his life mattered.
The family requests you consider a donation in Gene’s memory to the Olathe Hospice House at www.olathehealth.org/donations where true angels on Earth cared for him in his final days, or to the Heart of America Council/Boy Scouts of America at www.hoac-bsa.org.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Eugene Tuley, please visit our flower store.