Doyle “Gene” Ogden, Jr.

Doyle “Gene” Ogden, Jr. didn't want to spend his remaining days in a hospital, so he didn't.

He spent them in his own home, in a comfortable bed, with brilliant autumn Ozark’s sunshine streaming in through the window. If that's how your time on this earth ends, surrounded by people who love you, you have lived a good and full life. 

Gene was born December 21st, 1945, in Siloam Springs, Arkansas, and shortly thereafter bought his first car. He loved cars. He had a lot of them. He loved buying them, selling them, washing them, reading about them, talking about them, decorating the house with pictures of them and dreaming about what his next one would be. He could rattle off with delight what was essentially a Top Ten list of his favorite speeding tickets. A police officer once pulled him over with lights and sirens simply to look at his custom-painted Corvette and ask if it was for sale. Gene told the story as if that irritated him. But he was secretly proud. 

He also loved, not necessarily in order, God, his dogs, irreverent humor, the music of John Denver, the beaches of north Florida, Vetta's cooking, Jack Reacher books and classic TV shows. 

By any measure Gene was wildly successful in business. He had a relentless work ethic and won just about every award the insurance industry had to give out. He worked hard for everything he had, and he had plenty. However, his most impressive achievement may have been that a restaurant manager once cut him off from an all-you-can-eat lobster buffet because he ate too many lobsters. 

Gene Ogden could charm the knickers off a nun, as they say. He was a waitress's favorite table and in the last few weeks, his doctors' favorite patient. He had no patience for those who wasted his time or for those who didn't do the job expected of them. He was surprisingly contemplative. He expressed a few regrets, appreciated his victories and was grateful for his many blessings. 

He would certainly consider his marriage to Vetta his greatest victory and blessing. Over their 32 years together they discovered the recipe for a loving partnership that enriched both their lives. 

Gene is survived by his wife, Vetta Ogden; his mother, Lillian Chapman; sister, Gisele Chapman Davis of Naples, Florida; daughter, Melissa Chesnut of Longmont, Colorado; son, Shannon Gene Ogden of Littleton, Colorado; son, Michael Gene Ogden of Austin, Texas; daughter, Hannah Moffett Hunt of Maumelle, Arkansas; stepson, Jared Midkiff of Wellington, Florida; stepson, Nathan Midkiff of Chicago, Illinois, thirteen grandchildren; and two great grandchildren. 

We all get a certain amount of time. Gene's ended November 10, 2021. It's because he lived a good and full life that we're sad his is over. 

A memorial service will be held at a later date. Arrangements and cremation are under the direction of Cremations of the Ozarks. To leave an online condolence, please visit www.cremationsoftheozarks.com.