Gene Staggs' Obituary
George “Gene” “PopPop” Eugene Staggs, age 71, passed May 21, 2019 in Fayetteville, AR.
Gene was born in Russellville, AR on February 21, 1948. He was preceded in death by his father, George Ruben Staggs of North Little Rock, Ruthie Jenks of Jasper, AR and Willie Scaife of Branson, MO.
After graduating from the University of Arkansas with a Masters in Industrial Engineering, Gene began his professional career with Ethyl Corporation (Albemarle Corporation) based in Baton Rouge, LA. During his 36-Years with the Company, he started as an Industrial Engineer and specialized in finance. He spent 17 of his 36 years in Magnolia, AR, eventually “retiring” in 2008 in Baton Rouge. His short lived retirement led him to join former associates to start KiOr, a biofuel startup. That team successfully took KiOr from a vision to a reality, successfully taking it public in 2012 on the NASDAQ.
Gene enjoyed a successful career, but family and his community remained paramount. He immensely enjoyed participating in his children’s activities from baseball, football, dance recitals, band performances and Boy Scouts. He himself was an Eagle Scout and saw his son Stuart honored with the same accomplishment. He was active in Junior Achievement, United Way, the United Methodist Church and AAIE. Although not a politician, he saw the need for improvements in his local schools, which caused him to not only run, but win a seat as a Member of the Magnolia School Board.
Gene loved the outdoors. He felt comfortable in the marsh shooting ducks in Louisiana and Arkansas, the fields of South Dakota chasing pheasant, the White River fishing for trout, floating and fishing the Buffalo River, hiking a mountain or even later in life chasing Blue Marlin in the Dominican Republic and Bermuda. He did this for the love of the great outdoors, but more so to spend time with friends and family.
Both Gene and June were avid Arkansas Razorback fans. They experienced the highs and lows of the football, basketball, baseball and other programs, rarely missing a game.
Gene is survived by his loving wife, June Ann, his mother, Mary Alice Staggs of North Little Rock, AR, Sister, Marilyn Boyett and her husband Frank, sister-in-law, Jerry Jenks of Branson, MO and bother-in-law, Mike Jenks of Jasper, AR, three children, daughter, Adriane Staggs Harmeling and her husband Hook of Dallas, TX, his son, Stuart George Staggs and his wife Melissa of Fayetteville, AR, daughter, Sayward Alexis Smith and her husband Bryant of Little Rock, AR, his Grandchildren who loved him unconditionally, Cayman, Sawyer, Reed, Rowan, Alexis and Beckett and pets Slick and Fuzzy and special “hunting” dog, Gus.
Gene is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews whom he loved dearly and countless friends and colleagues he made over a lifetime.
The family would like to thank his care team at UAMS, SPOHNC, CUMC family and many friends and neighbors for all their care and support over the past five years.
In lieu of flowers please, make donations to Arkansas Academy of Industrial Engineering Academic (AAIE) Scholarships:
https://aaie.uark.edu/giving/
AAIE Academic Scholarship #30000213
In memory of Gene Staggs (June and Gene Staggs Scholarship)
Checks may be made to the University of Arkansas Foundation in memory of Gene Staggs
University of Arkansas
Attn: Ashley Reeves
4207 Bell ENGR CTR
Fayetteville, AR 72701
What’s your fondest memory of Gene?
What’s a lesson you learned from Gene?
Share a story where Gene's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Gene you’ll never forget.
How did Gene make you smile?