Donald Stookey

Born in Trivoli, IL on December 11, 1938 Departed on December 7, 2015 and resided in Goodlettsville, TN Life Celebration: First Baptist Church Hendersonville Room: Hearthside RoomThursday December 10, 2015 7:30pmVisitation: First Baptist Church Hendersonville Room: Hearthside RoomThursday December 10, 2015 6:00pm to 7:30pm

Donald "Gene" Stookey was born December 11, 1938, on the family farm in rural Trivoli, IL, to Donald Earl and Hilda Marie (Baughman) Stookey. The younger of two boys, Gene attended school in Farmington, IL, where he excelled in basketball and track, and Southern Illinois University-Carbondale, earning his B.S. in Biology and M.A in Botany, in preparation for a career in education.
Gene married his high school sweetheart, Gloria Jean Vallosio on April 28, 1961. Married 54 years, Gene and Gloria built a life together in Kankakee, IL, Georgetown, Grand Cayman, and Goodlettsville, TN. Gene served 30 years in Kankakee School District 111, teaching science and coaching basketball, cross country and track. He was an active member of Bethel Baptist Church in Bourbonnais, IL. Upon retirement in 1994, Gene and Gloria served on the ministry staff at First Baptist Church of Grand Cayman -he served as Minister of Education and together with Gloria assisted in the opening of First Baptist Christian School of Grand Cayman. Gene and Gloria returned to the States in 1998, settling in Goodlettsville, TN, where Gene served on the staff at Nashville's Julia Green Elementary School and volunteered as a chaplain at Baptist Hospital.
Gene passed from this life on December 7, 2015 at his home in Goodlettsville, TN, following a courageous battle with Interstitial Pulmonary Fibrosis. He is preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Robert Dale Stookey. He is survived by his loving wife, Gloria; son Stephen Stookey, and his wife, Beverly, of Fort Worth, TX; son Scott Stookey, and his wife, Cindy, of Jackson, TN; son Shawn Stookey, and his wife, Denise, of Waverly, TN; daughter Sheryl Howe, and her husband, Brian, of Cedar Park, TX; daughter Shelly McGehee, and her husband, Jason, of Goodlettsville, TN; and grandchildren A. J. McGehee, Anna Marie McGehee, Hunter Howe, Harrison Howe, Caleb Stookey, Emily Stookey, Luke Stookey, Natalie Stookey, Courtney Stookey, Madeline Stookey and Matthew Stookey.
Memorial gifts may be made to the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation or Bethel Baptist Church of Bourbonnais, IL.