Eugene L. Jaycox

EUGENE LAWRENCE JAYCOX was born October 5, 1925 to Everette and Myrtle (Eikmeier) Jaycox on the family farm near Flandreau, in Moody County, South Dakota and was baptized in November 1925 at Salem Methodist Church. He was raised on the farm and attended school, graduating from Egan High School in 1943. Following his education, Gene remained living and working on the farm. On September 26, 1952, Gene was united in marriage to Yvonne Alvine at Eastside Lutheran Church Chapel in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Following their marriage the couple resided on a farm in Moody County for several years before they purchased a farm in Sweet Township, Pipestone County, Minnesota. Gene worked the land and raised livestock from 1953 to the early 1970s. He then went to work in the manufacturing industry for Bayliner Marine (mid-1970s), Fey Industries (1978-1980) and part-time at Pipestone Grain (until the late 1980s). In the late 1980s, Gene formally retired from work, but remained engaged in his hobby farming. Yvonne preceded Gene in death on June 29, 2006. Gene continued to reside on the farm until he became a resident of the Good Samaritan Communities of Pipestone in September of 2011. On Monday, February 18, 2013 Gene died peacefully at the Pipestone County Hospice House at the age of 87 years, four months and 13 days.

Gene was a member of the Peace United Methodist Church in Pipestone where he enjoyed being a greeter and helping usher. Throughout his life, Gene was active in 4-H. He was also active in many County Fairs and over the years he raised, showed and judged many rabbits. Gene was a recipient of the Bob Duxbury Award, the South Dakota State Fair Lifetime Achievement Award, and was inducted into the Pipestone County 4-H Hall of Fame and South Dakota State 4-H Hall of Fame.

Gene is lovingly remembered by his children Kathy (Dennis) Weitala of Brookings, South Dakota, Sandi (Darwin) Slinger of Pipestone, Vicki (Rich) Gergen of Pipestone, Peggy (Doug) Pearson of Edmond, Oklahoma, Shari Solma of Slayton, Minnesota, Roxann (Terrance) Davis of Minneapolis, Minnesota; 8 grandchildren, Nitosha Slinger, Devan Weitala, Kayla Slinger, Bryan Jaycox, Dara Weitala, Jesse Gergen, Morgan Pearson, Peyton Pearson; five great-grandchildren, Trey and Jace Jaycox, Hannah Trebesch, and Mia and Mariah Pilar-Lopez; brother, Gerald (Gwen) Jaycox of Pipestone; and other family and friends. He was preceded in death by his wife of 53 years, Yvonne; and his parents, Everette and Myrtle Jaycox.