Gene Hall

Gene Ray Hall passed away peacefully at home on Nov. 1st, 2015. He was born Sept. 11, 1926 to Elree Rasmussen and Lorenzo (Ren) Hall. He was born on his father's farm approximately 2 miles east of Vernal. He had 3 sisters, Marie, twins-Joanne and Joelle and 4 brothers; Claude, Ralph, Boyd and Keith. All are now deceased. His father died when he was 14 years old from tick Fever. His mother sold the farm; cattle and forest permit and moved to town. He went to work for his uncle Alvin Wardell who had a herd of sheep which he ran on Douglas Mountain in the summer. His senior year in High School, World War II was on and they were required to take military drill or be on the Track team. Gene decided to do track and tried out winning the 100 yard dash and the 220 yard dash. He made the track team and was placed on a relay team which was a four man team. They pooled gas stamps and their coach, Harold Lundell, who was the principal, took them to Provo and entered them in 2 relay races. They won both of them. They continued on to win the State championship in the Medley Relay race. Gene joined the Navy when he was 17 and was required to stay enlisted until he was 21. He went to boot Camp in San Diego, and then was sent to Engineering School in Gulf port Mississippi, then back to San Diego to Diesel School, then to San Francisco where he went abroad a transport ship which took him to the Philippines. He was issued green shirts, pants and a Pitt helmet and put ashore to patrol Tackloben Leyte until the Sea Bees came to build a Navy Base. He was then transferred to a small ship, a LCI and he went to the island picking up Japanese POW soldiers and taking them back to Leyte. After the war, he was assigned the mail run from Subic Bay to Manila twice a week. He stayed in the Philippines for 17 months before he decided to come home. When they stopped in Guam, they tied up next to his Brother Boyd's ship. He was the Captain, and was surprised to see Gene after 6 years. He re-enlisted for 2 more years and was stationed on a ship in San Diego which was developing sonar. He was in the Navy a total of 7 years. Rank Petty Officer 1st class. When he returned home he went to work for Carter Oil Company. He was still in the Navy Reserve when the Korean War started. He was called back to active duty and sent to a floating dry dock located at Kwajalein in the Marshall Island in the South Pacific where he spent 18 months. He met, his sweetheart, Elaine Wilkins while he was home and they became engaged. They were married the week after he returned home, in the Idaho Falls Temple. Gene went to work for the Bank of Vernal, later purchased by Zion's Bank. He was in Banking for 35 years. Gene and Elaine had four children Vicky (died in infancy), Terri (Tad) Coon, surprise Arizona; Scott Hall, Salt Lake City and Durk Hall, Vernal. Gene was cared for by his son Durk until his passing. They were blessed with 6 grandchildren and 8 great grand children. Gene and Elaine were married for 60 years. Elaine passed away on December 7th, 2013. Gene loved to golf. His brother-in-law, Wayne Wilkins, bought a set of used golf clubs and asked him to pay half. He played a couple of times and was hooked. Gene won a few tournaments in Vernal and one in Rifle Colo. Gene also loved to Rifle Muzzle loader deer hunt with his son Durk. It was a wonderful ride. Funeral services will be Friday, November 6, 2015 at Vernal 3rd Ward Chapel. (475 West 100 South). Viewing will be Thursday, November 5, 2015 at the Blackburn Vernal Mortuary from 6:00-8:00 PM and at the Chapel from 9:45-10:45 prior to the services. Burial will be in the Vernal Memorial Park, services are entrusted to the care of Blackburn Vernal Mortuary.