Eugene (Gene) Cone

Funeral services for Jimmie Eugene (Gene) Cone of Thomasville will be held at 2:00PM on Sunday October 4, 2015 at First United Methodist Church in Thomasville with Rev. Bob Dixon, Rev. Burns Willis and Rev. Jim Smith officiating. Interment will be in Laurel Hill Cemetery. Mr. Cone passed away Thursday October 1, 2015 in Valdosta, Ga. Born on September 12, 1929 in Manchester, Ga. he was the son of the late Perry Oliver Cone Sr. and Everlena Moree Cone. He joined the United States Air Force in 1947 and proudly served until 1954. Mr. Cone founded Cone Motors with his brother King where he worked many years before his retirement. He loved to fresh water fish and especially enjoyed fishing the Ochlocknee River, Lake Okeechobee, and numerous other rivers, lakes and ponds. He was an avid walker of mountain trails in north Georgia and especially enjoyed hiking the Appalachian Trail in Georgia and North Carolina. Mr. Cone was an active member of First United Methodist Church where he served in several capacities through the years. He was also very active in the community by serving on numerous Boards of Directors including but not limited to The Salvation Army, Vashti, in Thomasville and Hinton Rural Life Center in Hayesville, NC. Survivors include his wife Joyce M. Cone; children Robert Eugene Cone and wife Kay, Michael Wayne Cone, Ronald Bruce Cone, Mark Alan Cone and wife Barbara, Barry Neal Cone and wife Leah, Brian Keith Cone and wife Evelyn, Beverly Ruis and husband Donnie; 13 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren; siblings King Solomon Cone and Faye Olive Folmer. Mr. Cone recently stated “My greatest achievement was on March 17, 1950 in Albany, Ga. when I made my high school sweetheart Joyce Moore my bride. I have had a great life with my wife Joyce and we were fortunate enough to have 7 children along with 13 great grandchildren, 6 great grandchildren. My life has been very fulfilling thru family, great friends, my church and Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior.” Mr. Cone’s family will receive friends at the funeral home on Saturday afternoon from 4:00-6:00PM. Donations may be made to First United Methodist Church or to the Thomasville Food Bank at 425 N. Broad St., Thomasville, Ga. 31792.