Gene Calcote

Gene Calcote

Gene Calcote passed away on November 21, 2014.

Occupation: Retired U.S. Treasury Agent (ATF)
Children: 3
Grandchildren: 1

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Stephen E. “Gene” Calcote
1941 – 2014

Biloxi

Stephen Eugene Calcote (you probably knew him as “Gene”) entered eternal life on Friday, November 21, 2014. His spirit is carried on by his three children, 3 grandchildren, 2 step-grandchildren, two surviving siblings, and an extended family of relations and friends from every walk of life.

Gene was born in Lucien (Franklin County), MS and worked hard to earn everything he called his own, took care of what he had, and sure did know the value of a dollar. He graduated in the class of 1961 from Gulfport High School, and then he scraped by to pay for each semester of college on his own. He graduated in the class of 1965 from Mississippi Gulf Coast Junior College and the class of 1967 from the University of Southern Mississippi where he was initiated into the Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity, Mississippi Sigma Chapter in 1966. In 1968, Gene was a commissioned deputy sheriff for Harrison County, MS. He also worked at the VA hospital in Gulfport before being hired by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, & Firearms (ATF), which relocated him to Raleigh, NC. Gene worked as a Federal Agent out of Raleigh, Fayetteville, and Dunn offices during his tenure, and he retired in 1988. He also served proudly and retired as a Major from the Department of the United States Air Force Reserve in 1991.

We were blessed to learn many valuable lessons from Gene during his 73 years, among them: Work hard for what you want and need; no one is just going to hand it to you. You make your own luck. A college education is invaluable! There’s always a dollar to be made. There’s always a dollar to be saved. If it’s too good to be true, then it usually is. Never throw away anything that can be fixed with 3M Emblem glue. Believe in the healing power of jokes. Spend your time doing things that you enjoy. Surround yourself with people who make you happy. Wait patiently to sing your favorite songs on karaoke night. See the beauty in nature. Plant a garden. Feed the birds and squirrels. Have lunch with your friends. The best coach in football is Bill Belichick (even though he didn’t pull for the New England Patriots). Most importantly, love your family unconditionally no matter how hard it hurts.

Gene is survived by his dear friend, Dura Faye (Barbour) Calcote, their children and grandchildren, whose accomplishments he would share with anyone who would listen: Brad Calcote of Benson, NC (wife Rachel, children Christian and Savanna); Natasha Jackson of Benson, NC (husband Marty, child Jacob); and Bryant Calcote of Destin, FL (wife Auraya, step-children Cameron and Dustin); siblings Sylvia Stanley of Biloxi, MS and Kathy Theriot of Vancleave, MS; and many in-laws, family and friends too numerous to list but not forgotten. Gene is reunited with his parents Thomas Edward Calcote and Katherine (Ratcliff) Calcote Bulkley, and is predeceased by his big brother Charles Calcote of New Waverly, TX.

Friends (and strangers he would love to have met) can visit with Gene’s family at the Bradford O’Keefe Funeral Home, 1726 15^th Street Gulfport, MS 39501, on Tuesday, December 2, from 6 until 8 PM. The visitation will be followed by a celebration of his life at the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) on Veterans Boulevard in Biloxi from 8 until 11 PM, arranged by his karaoke family.

Rose & Graham Funeral Home in Benson, NC will be handling general funeral arrangements thereafter and the funeral service will take place on Saturday, December 6^th at the Benson Pentecostal Holiness Church located at 8991 Highway 27 East, Benson, NC. Visitation at Benson Pentecostal Holiness Church will start at 9:45 AM followed by funeral at 11 AM, and burial following. Gene’s final resting place will be at the Dixon Family Cemetery in Benson, NC.

In lieu of flowers, Gene’s family requests that you do an unsolicited and unexpected act of kindness in his name.

View and sign register book at www.bradfordokeefe.com.

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Following a Gulfport High reunion Gene wrote:
I live on Bayou Bernard and I enjoy boating, jet sking, fishing and hotroding. I also enjoy my children and grandchild. They all live in N.C. My daughter is a RN, one son works in construction and my other son is a senior at North Carolina State for electonics and computer engineering.

As I look back at my days at Gulfport High School, I have found that they were some of the best days of my life. I only wish I could go back to Toties, Elsie's, Spiders, Parkside, and Park and Eat with Shorty, Tim, Don, Ward, Bill, Finley, Anthony, Danny, Tommy, Teddy, Bev, Loopy, Mike, Jimmy, etc., and all the GHS girls!!!!!