Gene Muhlherr, Sr

GENE HERMAN MUHLHERR, SR, of Houston, Texas, entered into his eternal life with the Lord on August 23, 2020, after a short battle with cancer. He was born in Guthrie, Oklahoma, on November 23, 1935 to Joseph Harry Muhlherr and Cleva Talitha Gibson. Gene had a brother, Joseph. Gene was preceded in death by his parents Joseph and Talitha, brother Joe Muhlherr, his wife Josie, his son Gene Jr. and daughter-in-law Marina. Gene is survived by son Michael Muhlherr and wife Camy of Houston, Texas; daughter Patricia Baisa and husband Derick of Lake Stevens, Washington; daughter Margaret Muhlherr and partner Treska Mitchell of Shreveport, Louisiana; and his beloved grandchildren Sophie and Madeline Muhlherr and Garrett and Sydney Baisa. He is also survived by many nieces, nephews and cousins. Gene grew up in Guthrie, Oklahoma. His father, Joseph, worked in the oil field as a roughneck, and his mother ran a beauty salon. When Gene was in his teens, his father passed away in an oil derrick accident. Talitha was left with raising the two boys with the help of their paternal grandmother, who also lived in Guthrie. As the boys reached college age, Talitha enlisted the help of the Catholic priest, and both boys were accepted into Notre Dame University through an ROTC program. At Notre Dame, Gene and Josie met for the first time at the 1955 wedding of Mary, Josie's younger sister to Joe, Gene's brother. Josie was her sister's maid of honor and Gene was his brother's best man. As in-laws they began to see more or each other and it was on September 14, 1957 at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart at Notre Dame that they too exchanged their wedding vows. The couple and their growing family moved over 18 times over their 55-year marriage, with Houston as their home base. They lived all over West Texas, New Orleans, Louisiana, Tunbridge Wells & Seven Oaks, England, Jakarta, Indonesia and Lodi, California before coming back to settle in Houston where they lived for 34 years. Most of the moves were orchestrated by Josie; while Gene went on to find a place for the family to live. No small feat for a mother of four. After Josie's death in 2012, Gene and daughter Margaret stayed in the house until 2018. He then sold the house and moved to Lake Stevens to be near his daughter Trish's family. Gene graduated with a degree in Geology, and he loved being a Geophysicist. It enabled him to see the world with family in tow. He had an affinity for rocks and rock hunting, especially in the Rocky Mountains and Western states. His job took him from the swamps of Louisiana's Atchafalaya Basin to the jungles of Borneo to the North Slope of Alaska. Gene was very proud of his four grandchildren. He tried to play an active role in their lives even though they might not have lived in the same state. He tried to spend as much time as he could with them and was adored by all of them. He has passed on to them his love of travel and his interest in rock hunting. Josie and Gene became members of Christ the Good Shepherd Catholic Church soon after moving to their Houston for the last time. He joined the Knights of Columbus and enjoyed helping at the various barbeques, fish frys, and breakfasts the Knights sponsored. He was always ready to strike up a conversation while manning the ticket table. He transferred to St. Edward Catholic Church. His favorite holiday was Thanksgiving. It soon became a tradition that he and family members and friends would deep fry turkeys and enjoy a bloody mary or two. Starting at daybreak, this would last into early afternoon until everyone had their "orders" filled and were on their way to their respective dinners with turkeys in tow. In his later years, Gene had to deal with a stroke, prostate cancer, and finally pancreatic cancer, but his mind was still as sharp as ever through all his medical travails. Ask him when an event occurred and he could (and would) tell you the month, year, and many times the date. Gene leaves behind a family and many friends who will miss him. A memorial service will be held at St. Edward Catholic Church 2601 Spring Stuebner Rd, Spring, TX 77389 at 10:30 am Saturday, October 17, 2020 Alternately, the Service will be live-streamed on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMvIqqK2_Yswh76RQrUHuWw/videos In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Gene's name at either • St. Edward Catholic School 2601 Spring Stuebner Rd, Spring, TX 77389 • Knights of Columbus Council #13560 •