Wesley "Gene" Eugene Smith, 69, passed away at 1:34 p.m. Friday, May 22, 2020 at Alton Memorial Hospital with his family by his side.

Gene was Born on September 28, 1950 in Wood River.  He was a son of the late Benjamin Eugene and Betty June (Cox) Smith.

Gene was an Army Veteran. He served 3 tours in Vietnam and was a member of Charlie Troop.  During his last tour, he pulled a man out of a burning tank.   To both men's surprise, that man turned out to be his uncle Darrell.  This life saving act made the front page of the telegraph.  He was also a member of the American Legion Post 0794 in East Alton.

In 1984, Gene started working for the Olin Corporation in East Alton as a Case Loader in the Winchester Division, retiring in 2001.

Survivors include three daughters, Veronica Hewitt & John of Fort Worth,Texas, Erica and Kurtis Cox of Litchfield, Jacosha Bailey of Alton; grandson whom he raised, Kaeleb Austin, of Cottage Hills; several grandchildren; one great-grandchild; three sisters, Wanda and William Miller of Worden, Diane and Don Cox of Dorsey, Sandra and Raymond Agney of East Alton; seven brothers, Kevin and Carol Mott of Cottage Hills, Terry Mott of Wood River, Dennis and April Mott of East Alton, Randy and Amy Mott of Wood River, Steven Smith of Victorville, CA, Greg and Susan Smith of Riverside, CA, Danny and Deanne Smith of Denver CO.

Besides his parents, Gene was preceded in death by two daughters, Jacquelyn Smith, Shanna Lyons; two granddaughters, Harley Smith, Kelsey Lyons; one sister, Gena Chase; three brothers, Rick Mott, Mike Smith, Dennis Smith.

Graveside services will be Monday, June 15, 2020 at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis, M0.

Memorials may be given to the family.