Gene Elwin McCorkle

Gene Elwin McCorkle, age 91 of Gatesville, passed away peacefully in his sleep on March 31, 2024.

Graveside services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 2, 2024, at Restland Cemetery with Pastor John Heckmann officiating.

Gene was born in his family home on Blue Creek in Gatesville, Texas on December 31, 1932, the eighth of ten children, to the late Vida and Earl McCorkle.  Shortly after graduating from Jonesboro High School in 1950, he met Shirley Ann Adair.   After a brief courtship, they eloped to Hope, Arkansas in October of 1951, and were married for 54 years until her passing in November of 2005.  They moved to Port Arthur, Texas where he began working for Gulf Oil.  After ten years, he moved his wife and two young children to Tempe, Arizona to pursue a degree in Electrical Engineering from Arizona State University, graduating in 1966.  He and his family moved back to Texas and settled in Port Neches, where he returned to Gulf Oil, retiring in 1985 with over 30 years of service.

Pappy, as he was known by all of his grandchildren, was an avid fisherman and spent many years at his lake house on Toledo Bend Reservoir with his children, grandchildren, siblings, and his brother Bob McCorkle, who was his treasured fishing partner. 

Pappy enjoyed several different activities throughout his life.  He loved bluegrass music, especially Earl Scruggs, and played the banjo.  He was an expert mechanic who could fix anything, which his family greatly appreciated over the years.  He enjoyed playing old 8mm reels at family gatherings and got immense joy in attending many of his grandchildren’s events.  Pappy often reminisced about his days growing up in the Jonesboro area with his siblings.  He was proud to be a part of the first six-man football team at Jonesboro High School and attended many homecoming games throughout his later years.   He was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church at The Grove.  

Pappy relocated to Gatesville and in 2015 married Russie Carter.   Their time together was filled with joy and love.     

Gene was preceded in death by his previous wife, Shirley McCorkle; parents, Vida and Earl McCorkle; siblings, Evelyn McCorkle, W.C. McCorkle, Truman McCorkle, Monroe McCorkle, Garland McCorkle, Valeta Barron, Juanita McCorkle, Bob McCorkle, and June Garner; and his beloved son, Doug McCorkle.  

He is survived by his wife, Russie; daughter, Vicki Sheffield and husband, Scott; daughter in law, Denise McCorkle; grandchildren, Chris Flocke and wife, Teresa; Erin Eddings and husband, Waylon; Stacy Webb and husband, Bubba; Jonathan Flocke and wife, Ronda; Lori Henson; Dyanna Starling and husband, Brad; Lisa Brooks and husband, Adam; and Michael Sheffield; twenty-two great grandchildren; and two great great grandchildren.