Gene was born on May 30, 1937 in Granite Falls to James W. and Vida Miller Hooton and was a graduate of Granite Falls High School. He proudly served his country in the U.S Air Force and owned and operated a produce store in Birmingham, Alabama with his first wife Inez. Gene returned to Catawba County in 1992 and 2 years later married Norma Jean Poole who shared the remainder of his life. He was a lifelong Elvis fan and impersonator who also dressed as a clown and gave out balloons to children at Hickory Crawdads games. He loved fishing and going out for a steak dinner.
Survivors include his wife Norma Jean Hooton of Taylorsville; siblings, Duane Hooton and wife Betty of Hickory, Bobby Hooton and wife Anne of Conover and Debbie Hartsock and husband Tom of Mount Holly; numerous nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews.
Gene was preceded in death by his first wife Inez Hooton and brother James Morris Hooton.
A celebration of Gene’s life will be held at 2:00 pm, Thursday December 17, 2015 at Catawba Funeral Home in Hickory with Pastor Kenny Robison officiating. The family will receive friends Thursday from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm at the funeral home. Burial will be private. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made in Gene’s name to Highland Baptist Church in Hickory or to Valley Nursing Center in Taylorsville. Condolences for the family may be left at www.catawbamemorialpark.com. The Hooton family is under the care of Catawba Memorial Park, Funerals and Cremations.
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