1947
Cecil
2024
Cecil Eugene (Gene) Catlett Jr.
May 19, 1947 — May 30, 2024
La Feria, TX
Gene’s early years were spent traveling with the entire Catlett clan on “Catlett Greater Shows” carnival, which was owned by his grandfather.
The family settled in Houston for a brief time in the late 50’s before putting down permanent roots in La Feria in 1960.
Gene attended junior high at Sacred Heart Catholic School in Mercedes where he was valedictorian of his class. Gene attended La Feria High School where he became very active in sports including football, basketball, and track. Participating in sports gave Gene a sense of belonging and community that he hadn’t experienced before. In high school Gene also met the love of his life, Colleen Sue Burns. They were married December 28, 1966, shortly after Colleen finished high school. They both attended Pan American college.
Gene learned a strong work ethic and entrepreneurial spirit working on the carnival and in other businesses along-side his father and many other family members. Skills such as welding, metal fabrication, painting, and construction.
Gene spent many nights and weekends building the family home while also running his own ice machine repair business which later became Buyer’s Distributing, a wholesale ice machine and refrigeration equipment. Gene was known by many as “Mr. Manitowoc.” Over the years, Buyer’s Distributing grew to include locations in La Feria and San Antonio and covered the entire South Texas region.
Gene was active in the Catholic church as well as an avid hunter and fisherman. In 2001, Gene and Colleen realized a lifelong dream when they moved to Port Isabel so they could live near the water. He received great joy from taking others fishing and letting them catch the big one.
Gene is survived by his wife of 57 years, Colleen, his children Kevin (Tamara) and Kandis, grandchildren Riley, Madeline and Rebecca, brothers David (Brenda) and Michael and sisters Judy and Joy.
Visitation will be held Monday, June 3rd from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Buck Ashcraft San Benito Funeral Home. Services will be held at Buck Ashcraft San Benito Funeral Home at 10 am on Tuesday, June 4th with burial following at La Feria Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Cure PSP, 325 Hudson Street, 4th Floor, New York, NY 10013 or MD Anderson Cancer, PO Box 4486, Houston, TX 77210.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Cecil Eugene (Gene) Catlett Jr., please visit our flower store.
Service Schedule
Past Services
Visitation
Monday, June 3, 2024
5:00 - 7:00 pm (Central time)
Buck Ashcraft San Benito Funeral Home
Funeral Service
Tuesday, June 4, 2024
10:00 - 11:00 am (Central time)
Buck Ashcraft San Benito Funeral Home
Burial
Tuesday, June 4, 2024
11:30am - 12:30 pm (Central time)
La Feria Cemetery
Guestbook
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