ECHOLS, Ky. — Gene Gaither, 92, of Echols, died Friday, May 15, 2026. He was born in Spring Lick, Kentucky, to the late Avery Clay and Tassie Gaither.
A graduate of Beaver Dam High School, Gene was a devoted public servant. He was a veteran of both the U.S. Army and Marine Corps Reserves, and spent more than 20 years as a high school basketball referee.
After tenures at Standard Oil and Peabody Coal, Gene proudly pursued a career in law enforcement. He was elected Ohio County Sheriff, retired as the Beaver Dam Chief of Police, and served as Assistant Chief of Hartford Police Department.
In addition to his parents, Gene was preceded in death by his wife, Evelyn; a son, Chris; and 11 siblings, Wilber “Red,” Hontas, Dale Barnard, Marjorie Krickovich, Richard, Ralph, James, Mandy Lou Gaither, Loraine Reid, Joe; and his twin brother Jack.
He is survived by a sister, Barbara Quisenberry; two sons, John (Melissa) Gaither and Todd (Becky) Gaither; a daughter, April (Shaun) Schneider; seven grandchildren, Clay Gaither, Hilary Gaither, Hali Simpson, Katie Sam Smith, Emily Duncan, Alex Gaither, Alexandria Schneider; and 10 great-grandchildren, KyLee, Kalix, Collin, Keeley, Henry, Callie, Avery, Alice, Jack, and Mattie.
Services will be held Saturday, May 23, at 1 p.m. at Bevil Brothers Funeral Home with Bros Alton Crowe and Byron Priar officiating. Burial at Pond Run Cemetery in Echols will follow. Visitation is scheduled from 3 p.m. until 7 p.m. Friday, and from 9 a.m. until the time of service on Saturday.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests expressions of sympathy be made in the form of contributions to Pond Run Cemetery Fund or Pond Run Baptist Church. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home.
Online condolences may be sent at bevilbrosfuneralhomes.com.