Francis Gene Fagnant

Gene Fagnant, 84, was born January 5, 1929, the second child of Arthur J. and Kathryn A. Fagnant, in Lava Hot Springs, Idaho. Together with his older sister, Ruth Ann, and his younger brother Jerry, the Fagnant family lived on the existing Fagnant Ranch just west of Dempsey Creek outside of Lava. He spent his youth on the ranch, attending school, first grade through high school, in Lava Hot Springs, then he went on to attend Idaho State University in Pocatello for two years, studying agriculture.

Gene was drafted into the United States Army at the height of the Korean War, September 19, 1950 to September 18, 1952. Gene attended basic training at Fort Ord, California, then went on to Field Training School at Fort Monmouth, New Jersey, specializing as a Field Radio Instructor with the Radio Signal Corps. He was stationed with the 586th Signal Service Company, Camp Gordon Georgia as an ROTC Cadet instructor.

Upon his honorable discharge from the Army, Gene returned to Lava Hot Springs, and joined American Legion Post 88, where his father was a charter member since its establishment in 1931. Gene became, and held, the position of Legion Post Adjutant for the last forty of his sixty years of membership with the American Legion.

While working as a government fur trapper in the Chesterfield and Bancroft area of southeast Idaho, Gene met Margaret Allee Remington, of Bancroft. They married on April 27th of 1956 and started their own family, settling in Lava Hot Springs. Gene and Allee had four children together, three sons and one daughter. They were later divorced, and Gene married Carman Reavis of Uvalde, Texas, again residing in Lava Hot Springs.

Gene devoted his life to family, farming, ranching, and community involvement.

In addition to his work with the American Legion, he enjoyed supportive memberships in the National Rifle Association, Dempsey-Topaz Irrigation company, South Bannock county Historical Center, Lava Volunteer Fire Department, and Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church.

Gene is preceded in death by his parents, his wife Carman, his brother, Jerry and his daughter, Maureena. He is survived by his sister, Ruth Ann Olson, Lava Hot Springs, his three sons, Frank (Debbie), Russell (Neil Ragan) and Kenneth (Julie) of Lava Hot Springs, thirteen grandchildren and twenty great-grandchildren.

A Rosary prayer service will be held Sunday August 18, 2013 from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. at our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Lava Hot Springs, with a visitation to follow from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. Funeral mass will be held Monday, August 19, 2013 at 12:00 Noon at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Lava Hot Springs. The family will receive friends on Monday from 11:00 a.m. prior to services. Interment will be in the Lava Hot Springs Cemetery with military rites provided by the Lava American Legion Post #88.

There will be a reception luncheon hosted by Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Ladies League and the Lava Hot Springs LDS Relief Society at the Lava Hot Springs Community Center following graveside services.

Funeral arrangement are under the care of Manning-Wheatley Funeral Chapel, 510 N. 12th Ave.