Gene Marshall Jackson

Gene Marshall Jackson was born June 11, 1960, in Seattle. He passed away on Sept. 19, 2024, in Pawnee, Oklahoma, at the age of 64. 

An unknown adventure led Gene to Perry, Oklahoma, in the early 1980s. Gene’s longtime friend, Raymond Reub, said Gene told him that he had hitchhiked across America and acquired a station wagon at some point. That station wagon broke down in Perry, where Gene acquired a job at the 89ers restaurant, met his first wife, Janet, as well as many, many lifelong friends, started a family and never left. 

In August 1992, Gene and Janet welcomed their daughter, Sheri, to the world. 

Gene was a founding member of the charitable motorcycle organization, the Noble County Independent Bikers, with some of his closest friends. This was a fitting organization for Gene to have helped found because he didn’t know a stranger and was always happy to offer a helping hand, expecting nothing in return. This was especially true when it came to helping people fix their motorcycles, where Gene possessed special mechanical talents and was happy to put those talents to use to get people back on the road. 

Gene worked several different jobs in Perry, from serving as the parts department’s manager for Ruble Vance, working at O’Reilly Auto Parts, transporting vehicles for Seth Wadley to operating a tow truck for Big Jim’s Towing. Jim Miller, owner of Big Jim’s towing, was another important person in Gene’s life and also Sheri's uncle. 

Gene’s positivity was infectious and he was a jokester. After an afternoon swapping stories and happy memories, it was realized that there are far too many stories to possibly tell them all. A few favorites included the laughs he used to get from people with his prosthetic leg, and the tattoo that he had on his opposite leg that included an arrow pointing toward the prosthetic and read “one foot in the grave.” Another story involved Gene being questioned by a police officer while on a poker run because he had a fake, but realistic looking, hand hanging out of the saddle bag of his motorcycle. Gene always came with lots of laughs. 

In December 2017, Gene married the love of his life, Lois Gunter. They doted on one another and were extremely happy. Gene and Lois never left each other without giving one another exactly three kisses. They loved spending time riding motorcycles with their tribe of friends and camping at the lake. 

It is really kind of lucky that Gene broke down in Perry all those years ago. He has positively impacted so many people’s lives since and he will live on in many, many happy memories. He and all the laughs that came with him are going to be very missed. 

Gene is survived by his wife Lois, of the home, and his daughter Sheri and her husband, Randy Buntin, also of Perry. Gene is also survived by two stepdaughters, Brandy Heid of Stillwater, Oklahoma, and Abby Blevins of Perkins, Oklahoma He is survived by grandchildren Addison Buntin and Laiden Buntin and step-grandchildren Bailey Wilmer, Kelsey Wilson, James Bigbee, Waylon Winsett, Caden Andrew, Brayden Andrew, Haylee Dancey, Roman Reyes, Aurora Reyes and great-grandchildren Sadie Bigbee and Lainee Bigbee. 

Services will be held at 2 pm on Saturday, October 5th at Kaw Street Chapel in Perry, OK.