Gene Kimmey

C. Gene Kimmey, 80, of Warden, Washington, passed away on April 14, 2024, at his son's home. He was being cared for by Aspen Hospice, his son, and granddaughter.  

Gene was born to Marie Dinger and Roland Kimmey on August 6, 1943, in Keokuk, "Ioway." He lived for a short time in Coeur D'Alene, Idaho, and spent most of his youth in and around Fort Peck, Montana, where his dad worked on building the Fort Peck Dam. Gene spent his free time away from school on their ranch south of the river. He regaled his children and grandchildren with real life cowboy stories. He even got into a shootout with rustlers! His Granny Cookson helped fight them off from the cabin. He served in the Montana National Guard and U.S. Army Reserves before the family sold the ranch and relocated to a ranch east of Buffalo Gap, South Dakota.  

While partnering with his dad on this ranch he met Jerri Lee Rowe, and they married on May 25, 1974. Gene adopted Jerri's son, Ian. Gene taught him how to be a horseman and took him to local rodeos. During their ranch days, Gene and Jerri had two more children, Talley and Drew.  

Gene always put his family ahead of his own dreams, and they moved to Central Washington, where he was a ditch rider for many years. Everyone in the community knew him as a trickster and he was quick to tell a good story… and that he drove the company truck like he was a NASCAR driver across the washboard roads. He was a real-life cowboy. Gene had a gift for silliness, and he loved to tease and make people laugh. There were very few people that didn't speak fondly of Gene's genuine loving soul.  

He set the example of how to love your wife and showed his kids the value of hard work. Gene doted on his wife and gave this advice to his sons: "be sure to kiss her every day of her life." 

Gene will be deeply missed by those of us lucky enough to know and love him, but the thought of this strong, loving, kind-hearted man as a Guardian Angel on horseback gives his family great comfort. 

Gene is survived by his wife of nearly 50 years, Jerri Lee Kimmey; daughter, Talley Pierson of Warden, WA; son, Drew (Kristen) Kimmey of Idaho Falls, ID; sister Linda (Max) Snow of Hyrum, UT; 9 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren all of whom he could recite their dates of birth for! 

He was preceded in death by his parents, brother John Kimmey, and his son, Ian Kimmey.

A celebration of life will be held at the Warden Community Church in Warden, Washington, on 11 May at 11am.