Eugene "Gene" Wesley Hart
Eugene "Gene" Wesley Hart, a beloved father, grandfather, and friend passed away during an ambulance ride home from Sierra View Hospital the evening of Tuesday, November 14, 2017 at the age of 79. He was born December 22, 1937, in Visalia, CA, the youngest child of Weston Conlee Hart and Helen Vivian Hart (née Freeman) of Hart's Hatchery & Breeding. He was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Mary Lou Bates, and is survived by his two brothers David and Dale, his wife Marcilyn, their six children, Janice Duncan (and husband Jim of Sacramento), Laura Dupree (and Michael of Terra Bella), Wesley Hart (of Fort Worth, TX), Ruth Justice (and Darin of Dallas), Charles Hart (and Irma of Dallas), Vivian Kahlenberg (and Michael of Houston), and many devoted nieces, nephews, and grandchildren.
Gene then attended Terra Bella Elementary where, in the second grade, he met the girl he would one day marry. However, he didn't know she was "the one for him" until a couple of years after graduating from Porterville Unified High School. During his teenage years, Gene preferred exploring the surrounding mountains and foothills with close friends to the tedium of classroom studies and farm labor, so immediately after graduating, he began to travel the world, making it as far as Alaska and working in a logging camp setting chokers near Ketchikan before returning to his family's home in Terra Bella to settle down. On December 27, 1957, Gene wed Marcilyn "Marcie" Mae Biggerstaff. Together, Gene and Marcie raised their six children; after which, Gene was blessed with the task of loving sons- and daughters-inlaw, twelve grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.
Gene worked hard at a number of different jobs to support his family: 12 years operating Hart's Hatchery and 50 years as a heavy equipment operator for various companies and Tulare County. Gene spent his entire life in the San Joaquin Valley, chiefly residing in Bakersfield and Terra Bella. Although an outdoorsman and farmer at heart, his faith and his family were most important to him. When Gene was not working in construction, he spent much of his free time helping family and friends by growing fruits and vegetables or fixing things (cars, appliances, roofing, tractors, electrical wiring, plumbing, and anything else that dared to break on his watch). Gene also dedicated a lot of time to calling up and encouraging people he knew were sick or lonely. The final year of his own life was a hard one spent battling cancer with friends and family constantly by his side. Early in his illness he often said, "I feel like the wreck of the Hesperus" but later he mostly said "I love you" and "thank you". At the end, his biggest regret was not being able to walk out to the barn one last time.
His family has spent much time contacting those he knew, but there are many people in the community who they cannot reach personally. A Celebration of Life potluck will be held Saturday, November 18, at 5pm in the Ducor Elementary cafeteria. There will be a viewing on Sunday, November 19, at the Porterville Funeral and Crematorium from 1pm-7pm. The funeral will be at the Hillcrest Cemetery in Porterville at 11 am on Monday, November 20, 2017. Condolences, stories, and memories are welcomed by the family and may be sent to sharehart1937@gmail.com.