Gene Ray Alston

Gene Ray Alston, of Thornton, passed away at Ascension Seton Williams Hospital in Round Rock, on Saturday, September 14, 2024, at age 84.

A Memorial Service will be held at the Thornton Methodist Church, on Saturday, September 28, 2024, at 10:00 a.m., with Pastor Ben Huebner officiating. Lunch will follow the service at the Mary Helen Nance Community Center in Thornton. 

Gene Ray Alston was born September 21, 1939, in the Prairie View Community near Thornton to Willie Bee and Ruby Crystell (Lewis) Alston. Gene attended all 12 years of school in Thornton, graduating in the class of 1958. He was not a stellar student, but he was a gifted athlete.

He married the girl next door, Kay Shoffner, in 1962, in the Thornton Methodist Church. They had a son and daughter, Shannon Gene Alston and Lisa Kay Alston Eskind. He attended Clarendon Junior College and Sam Houston State University and served 6 years in the Texas National Guard as a weekend warrior. 

Gene was a carpenter by trade and worked almost 50 years in many facets of the construction industry from the time he was a teenager helping his daddy put the steeple on the Thornton Methodist Church, to building industrial cooling towers (including the one on the Astrodome), becoming an accomplished and sought after trim carpenter in Houston, and owning and operating marine construction companies on Lake Conroe and on Lake Limestone where he was the builder/developer of Oak Point on Lake Limestone. 

He was the victim of a catastrophic wreck in 2005 in which he was severely burned and his career as a general contractor / builder and developer ended. As Gene recovered from his many injuries, he opened an office on Main Street in downtown Thornton that sported a sign on the window for “Do Nothing Consulting” Gene R Alston President & CEO where he entertained friends, watched John Wayne movies, and showed off Shannon’s hunting trophies that filled the walls. Each night he enjoyed his Louis L’amour “stories” that Lisa faithfully sent him for 19 years. 

Over the decades Gene mentored many young men in construction and took immense pride in their accomplishments and success. Gene was a lifelong member of Thornton Methodist Church, the chair of many committees, and always the first to speak up and suggest we donate to whomever needed help. Gene was known by everyone in Limestone County and loved by all who knew him and considered to be “the nicest and the sweetest man” by everyone who made his acquaintance. His name was synonymous with kindness and generosity.

His great love for all children and respect for our military and veterans spurred him to be both an early supporter and an ambassador for Cross Creek Meadows Equine Therapy and Retreat Center and he was proud to have played a part in the construction of the Big Red Barn. A lifelong conservative, Gene worked tirelessly over the years putting up hundreds upon hundreds of political signs supporting the candidates of his choice and promoting his Republican values. He was a walking billboard for his favorite. 

Gene enjoyed the family farm, his cows, and spending time with his grandchildren and great grandchildren at the pasture feeding the cows. He was known by all who frequented the local watering hole as Papa Gene the Shuffleboard King. He also enjoyed playing Bingo and Texas Hold’em and said they kept his mind active. 

Mr. Gene was well known by businesses throughout Limestone County that he visited routinely (as in every day routinely) with his ever-present LIST. They will miss him and his dry wit. Everyone knew of his love for all animals, especially cats, and his dedication to seeing them ALL well fed. When a critter (that could be a possum, coon, or skunk) showed up on the porch to eat the cat food he would say “they’re just tryin’ to make a livin.” 

Gene’s all-time favorite sport was bird hunting, and he looked forward to and enjoyed the Annual Dove Hunt on opening weekend with Shannon and Shannon’s Southwest pilot friends. 

Gene was preceded in death by his mother, Crystell Alston, and his father, Willie Bee Alston. 

He is survived by his wife, Kay Alston, his two children Shannon Alston and wife, Sherry, and his daughter, Lisa Eskind and husband, Terry. 

Four grandchildren: Chase Jordan Walker and wife Melissa, Sarah Gene Alston Griffin and husband Tommy, Lauren Elizabeth Eskind, and Hope Alston Eskind, his five great grandchildren: Samantha Grace Griffin, Logan Ann Walker, Noah James Griffin, Jordan Avery Walker, and Mickala Alston Griffin. 

Sister: Etta Frances Alston Blake and husband, Jim Blake. One nephew: Richard Eugene Long and wife, Cindy, and the two special ‘girls’ in his life that he claimed: Marti Bourland (and her babies) and Brandy Hartley. 

In lieu of flowers the family has requested donations be made to the Thornton Methodist Church, P O Box 382, Thornton, Texas 76687.