Eugene Mcelvaney

Eugene McElvaney Jr., 90, went to be with his heavenly savior, Jesus Christ on Friday, December 4, 2015. He was the eldest child of Eugene McElvaney and Sue King McElvaney of Dallas. Gene was born on Valentine's Day, February 14, 1925 in Dallas, Texas.

Gene grew up in Dallas and after graduating from Highland Park High School; he was accepted into the Navy V-12 College Training Program and was sent to Harvard Business School. After graduating from the program at Harvard, he was then sent to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and was commissioned an ensign in the Naval Reserve upon graduation. He then immediately entered into active duty in the US Navy and joined the fleet on the USS Kansan Bay as a Quartermaster Officer. He served in the Navy from July 1,1943 to July 7, 1946. At the end of his service, Gene returned to college at SMU in Dallas where he graduated in 1947 with a degree in Business Administration.

After graduating from SMU, Gene married Martha Nell "Monnie" King and together they raised two children, Eugene McElvaney III and Sue King McElvaney. Gene went to work as a land man for Tennessee Gas Transmission Company which later became Tenneco. Gene and Monnie began their married life in Houston and were later transferred to Lafayette and New Orleans, Louisiana. In 1959 they were transferred to Roswell. When they learned they were to be transferred back to Houston, they decided to stay in Roswell and Gene became an independent oil and gas land man.
On June 10, 1967 Gene married Wanda Lynn Pierce in Roswell. They recently celebrated 48 years of marriage until her death on October 6, 2015, just 2 months prior to his passing. Gene and Lynn traveled the world together and experienced many exciting adventures.

Gene was very active and involved in his church and sang bass in the Chancel Choir at First United Methodist Church in Roswell for many years. Gene was a very patriotic person and was active in politics and supported the Republican Party all of his life and right up to the time of his death. Gene and Lynn were thrilled to attend President Ronald Reagan's Inauguration in 1981 in Washington.
Preceding Gene in death are his parents, his younger brother, William K. McElvaney of Dallas, his wife, Wanda Lynn McElvaney and his adopted son, Jimmy Lee Pierce.

Gene is survived by his son, Gene McElvaney III and his wife Janet of Oklahoma City; daughter Sue Teague and her husband Troy of Roswell and daughter-in-law Fawn Alcorn-Pierce also of Roswell. He is also survived by his 4 grandchildren: Cal Nunnally and his wife Sherry of Dallas, Sarah Scott and her husband John of Roswell, Amy McElvaney Scott and her husband Ryan of Oklahoma City and Kyle McElvaney and his wife Lindsey also of Oklahoma City. In addition, he is survived by seven great-grandchildren: Samantha and Ashley Scott of Roswell, Trey and Katherine Nunnally of Dallas, Mia and Max McElvaney of Oklahoma City and Margot Scott of Oklahoma City.

Graveside services will be held at 10:30 am, Wednesday, December 9, 2015 at South Park Cemetery with John Fuss of First United Methodist Church officiating. Roswell Veteran's Honor Guard will conduct military graveside services.

Memorial donations may be made to the Roswell Humane Society at 701 E. McGaffey, Roswell, NM 88203, Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758517, Topeka, Kansas 66675 or First United Methodist Church, 200 N. Pennsylvania Ave, Roswell, NM 88201 in Gene's memory or to a charity of your choice.

Visitation

Ballard Funeral Home and Crematory
910 S. Main St.
Roswell, NM  88203
Tuesday, December 8, 2015
12:00 to 5:00 pm

Service

Graveside Service

South Park Cemetery
3101 S. Main St.
Roswell, NM  88203
Wednesday, December 9, 2015
10:30 AM

Cemetery

South Park Cemetery
3101 S. Main St.
Roswell, NM  88203

Memorial Contributions

Roswell Humane Society
703 E. McGaffy St.
Roswell, NM  88201

Wounded Warrior
PO Box 758517
Topeka, KS  66675

First United Methodist Church Cowboy Bell Fund
200 N. Pennsylvannia
Roswell, NM  88201