Eugene ‘Gene’ Wayne Morrison

Eugene ‘Gene’ Wayne Morrison, 72, passed away on Wednesday, October 6, 2021, at Genesis East Hospital.

A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. The Ralph J. Wittich-Riley-Freers Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Memorials may be made in Gene Wayne’s honor to his daughters. Online condolences may be made at www.wittichfuneralhome.com.

Gene Wayne was born on December 21, 1948, in Davenport, the son of Eugene William and Shirley Sander Morrison. He first married Judy Norton. Eugene later married Karen Hansen.

Gene Wayne was a United States Army veteran. He proudly built his business, Morrison Painting, through hard work and dedication. He later became a member of the Painters and Allied Trades Union in Rock Island. Gene Wayne lived in Iowa, Mississippi, and Florida before coming back to Iowa/Illinois to be closer to his family. He enjoyed fishing, working on his farm, gardening, and caring for his fruit trees. Gene Wayne loved his family and his dogs. He was often called ‘the dog whisperer.’

He is survived by his three daughters, Jody Hitchcock and her husband, Kenton, of Muscatine, Melissa Winter of Grandview, and Jillian Wales and her husband, Donald, of Milan; one son, Brandon Morrison of Taylor Ridge; his fur child, Hershey; eight grandchildren, JR Nott and his wife, Natalie, Kolton Hitchcock, Drake Winter, Whitney Winter, and his fur grandbaby, Brutie, Kaitlyn Morrison, Madalyn Wales, and Maddix Morrison; four great grandchildren, Caden, Bryleigh, Abel, and Rayna Nott; his fur great grandbaby, Gibby; and ten siblings, Sharon Green and her husband, Gerald, Dorothy VanDyne, Carol Bult, Sally Crawford, Tammy Whynott, Clem Morrison, Ted Morrison, Merl Morrison, Jeanie Ross, and Twyla Hertz.

Gene Wayne is preceded in death by his parents; great granddaughter, baby Glady on September 7, 2019; his fur baby, Buddy; one brother, Chuck Sterner; and one sister, Eugena Marie Morrison.

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