Gene Simien

Gene Autry Simien was born on March 29, 1941 in Lake Charles, Louisiana to his parents, Tojan and Annie Simien. He was the fifteenth child born to this union. Gene completed his formal education in Lake Charles. As a young man, Gene enjoyed the sport of boxing. According to him, he was a great boxer. Gene was blessed with six children, Melody, Anthony, Fadra, Lacey, Gena and Avalena. He was a proud father who loved his children. He was later blessed with ten grandchildren who he loved and adored. Like his name sake, Gene Autry, he was a great dancer. He loved to dance and was lovingly known as “Mean Gene the Dancing Machine.” He loved his family. When he was telling “his” truth about something he would say, “I’m telling you what God Loves.” When he was dressed in one of his three-piece suits and Stacey Adam shoes, he would say he was, “clean as a catfish,” or “Too smooth to move.” He was full of one liners, that kept his family and friends laughing. He lovingly called his sisters, daughters and nieces “Sha” which is French for “my dear”, showing his loving spirit. Gene was an emotional man, he would cry at the drop of a hat. However, he was also an extremely strong man, very passionate and full of energy. He was proud, often bragging about his family and his Creole heritage. Gene was a hard worker being one of the best window cleaners in town. He worked for his family’s business in the Janitorial field for over 40 years. Gene was great with his hands, always offering to paint, build, fix something or work on someone’s cars. Gene’s family and friends were loyal calling him daily, and James Lee calling multiple times a day to check on him. His daughter, Gena, became his immediate caregiver, spending many days helping him around the house and coordinating with his healthcare providers as his health declined. Whenever her dad needed her, she was right by his side even as his final moments of his life approached; his loving and caring friend Cliff Haralson was his “Ace Boon Coon,” and with him to the end. We will always remember him fondly, gone but not forgotten. Gene was preceded in death by two children, Melody Ann Carter and Anthony Jones; his parents, Tojan and Annie Simien; seven sisters, Beulah Lee, Frances Lee, Bernice Smith, Lacey Simien, Teresa Simien, Lou Ella Jones, Ella Mae Jones and Zelia Bohanan; and four brothers, Clifford, Wilson, Asie and Welton Simien. Gene Autry Simien departed from this life on July 25, 2018 in the presence of his daughter Gena, her mother, Nathala and his friend, Cliff. Gene leaves to cherish his memories his children, Fadra Chambers, Lacey Simien, Gena Gaybriano (Ahmad) and Avalena Matthisen; three siblings, Elsie Thibodeaux and Willis Simien both of Lake Charles Louisiana and one sister Delsie Citizen (Joe) of Denver Colorado, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives, and many friends

Funeral Home: Pipkin Braswell - 6601 E. Colfax Ave., Denver, CO
Visitation: 8/4/2018 at 9:00 AM - Pipkin Braswell Chapel of Peace - 6601 East Colfax Avenue, Denver, CO
Service: 8/4/2018 at 11:00 AM - Pipkin Braswell Chapel of Peace - 6601 East Colfax Avenue, Denver, CO
Family Gathering: 8/4/2018 - In The Reception Center following the Service Pipkin Braswell - 6601 E. Colfax Ave., Denver, CO