Eugene Mooney, 89, of Pattonsburg, MO, passed away Thursday, August 15, 2024, at a Bethany, MO, nursing home.
He was born October 5, 1934, east of McFall, Missouri, the son of Elmer L. and Alma C. (McDaniel) Mooney.
When he was a small boy, the family moved to the Mooney homestead north of Pattonsburg, where he attended Everly Grade School. He graduated from Pattonsburg High School in 1952.
Eugene started doing chores and working for his neighbor when he was 8 years old and continued until his senior year when he started working at the Pioneer Cap Factory. He worked there until entering the service in 1957.
Eugene began his service in the Army at Fort Riley, Kansas. He suffered a back injury while stationed in Germany and was flown back to Fort Sam Houston Army Hospital in Texas for surgery. After recovering, he finished his service at Fort Ord in California.
Eugene returned to the factory for a while before joining the Teamsters Union in 1964. He worked for Koss Construction in Iowa for four years as a boom truck operator and driver. Wanting to work in Missouri, he changed to Clarkson Construction Company based in Kansas City in 1968. He worked as a hydro-lift operator, heavy equipment hauler, and wide-load hauler. He enjoyed his work until his retirement in November 1991.
When Eugene purchased the family farm, he became the fourth generation of the Mooney family to own it since the mid-1800s. He was a member of the Heath United Methodist Church. Eugene recently reaffirmed his faith in Jesus Christ.
Eugene made several elk hunting trips to Colorado. He had a head mounted that sported a nice trophy rack. It hung in Betty’s Fashion Fabrics and then in Clark’s Wagon Wheel for many years. His interests included hunting, fishing, mushroom hunting, boating, snowmobiling, horseback riding, and riding ATVs. He was an avid fisherman and routinely shared his catch with many others.
Eugene was preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Eloise Carter and Eileen Mooney; nephew, Wayne Carter; and great-nephew, Russell Carter Steele.
Survivors include his sister, Betty (Keith) Plymell; five nieces, Marjorie (Greg) Steele, Bonnie (Neil) Hills, Gina Scott, Jacqueline (Scott) McClure, and Shannon Plymell; nephew, Kent (Pam) Plymell; niece-in-law, Maria Carter, as well as a host of great-nieces and nephews. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him.
Funeral services will be held at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, August 24, at Roberson Funeral Home, Pattonsburg, MO. Burial with military rites will follow in McFall Cemetery, McFall, MO. The family will receive friends from 1:00 to 2:30 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to the McFall Cemetery in care of Roberson Funeral Home, P.O. Box 152, Pattonsburg, MO 64670.
