Chester E. "Gene" Houk, 85, of Deepwater, Missouri died Tuesday November 8, 2005 at his home near Mt. Zion. He was born on July 3, 1920 in Deepwater, Missouri the son of Tom J. Houk and Lorena Mae (Smith) Houk.

On June 13, 1947 he married Katheryn Amelia Brooks who survives of the home.

He farmed in the area for most of his life, serving four years in the South Pacific during WWII with the 3119th Signal Service BN. and was employed with Williams Rock Co. for 17 years. He became a Christian in 1960 and served the Church for the remainder of his life as a member, deacon, and teacher with the Baptist congregation at Mt. Zion and for many years with the Gideons International.

Survivors include his wife, two sons, Bill Houk and his wife, Dawn, of Clinton, Missouri and Jerry Houk and his wife, Melody ofMeadville, Missouri; two daughters, Donna Brown and her husband, Gerald, of Osceola, Missouri and Carolyn Crump and her husband, Terry of Deepwater, Missouri; twelve grandchildren and ten
great-grandchildren.

He is preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, Orville and Warren, a sister, Opal Beasley and one grandson, Brook Alan Houk.

Funeral services were held at the Mt. Zion Baptist Church on Friday, November 11,2005 at 2:00 p.m. with Rev. John Walter officiating. The musical selections were "Because He Lives" and "Amazing Grace" sung by the Church Choir. Casket bearers were John Houk, Jared Houk, Jaben Houk, Brian Ingle, Michael Brown, John McClendon, Chance Crump, Garrett Elliott, Chris Houck, and Brian Lautenschlager.

Burial was in the Mt. Zion Cemetery, Mt. Zion, Missouri. under the direction of Vansant-Mills Funeral Home of Clinton, Missouri.