Gene Wayne Hutto, 86, of Joaquin, passed away Tuesday, September 22, 2026, in Joaquin.

Born September 20, 1940, in a farmhouse about 10 miles north of Center, Texas, Gene is the fourth of four boys born to Charles Ezra and Luella (Hooper) Hutto and the third generation born and raised on 160 acres of land that was settled in the 1850's by George Solomon Hutto Jr.

He is preceded in death by parents and all three brothers, Charles Marlon Hutto, James Vernon Hutto, and Johnny Curtis Hutto.

He is survived by his loving wife of 58 years, Joy Rae (Lay) Hutto; son, Charles Edward Hutto and wife Kim of Humble Texas; daughter, Cherie Rae (Hutto) Erickson and husband Robert of Baytown, Texas; step-daughter, Mary Virginia Thornton of Round Rock, Texas; grandsons, Austin Charles Hutto of Humble, Texas and Patrick Sullivan of Houston, Texas; sisters-in-law, Lou Ann (Lay) Matlock of The Woodlands, Texas and Frances Faye (Van Cleave) Hutto of Ft Carson, Co; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Gene graduated from Tenaha High School, the class of 1958. After various jobs, he was drafted into the US Army in 1963, where he later deployed to the Dominican Republic until his 1965 discharge. He was employed by Reed Roller Bit located in Houston, Texas, as a machine operator. Three years later, he promoted to foreman, where he worked until his 1992 retirement. Too young to quit work, Gene started a home improvement company concentrating mostly on custom kitchen cabinets and bathrooms. He retired for good in 2005, bought a 30' Fifth Wheel travel trailer and hit the road to live out his dream to travel. When Joy retired from NASA in 2008, travel became their number one priority. They visited all 50 states, (Hawaii by air, Alaska by Cruise Ship) and all six neighboring Canadian Provinces. Gene took three European trips, toured eight countries plus five Greek Islands, Bahamas, Cancun, and numerous Mexican border crossings.

Gene was a life-long member of Paxton Methodist Church in Tenaha, Texas. He was a Gold Legacy Life member, for seven years he served as Commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 8904 in Center, Texas. He was a life member of Sons of Confederate Veterans (SCV) Capt. Jesse Amason Camp 282 in Center, Texas and a fifty-year endowed member of Park Place Masonic Lodge #1182 in Houston, Texas with joint membership with Joaquin Masonic Lodge #856 in Joaquin, Texas. Gene was an endowed life member of the 32˚ Scottish Rite, Piney Woods Chapter in Tenaha, Texas.

Visitation will be held from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Friday, September 25, 2026, at Watson & Sons Funeral Home in Center. Funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, September 26, 2026, at Watson & Sons Chapel, 1554 State Highway 7 East, Center, Texas. Interment will follow in a family plot at Ramah Cemetery in Tenaha, Texas. There will be masonic and military honors performed.

Pallbearers will be Derrick Roberts, Joel Bradberry, Larry Hume, Richard Lundie, Mike Langford, and Sean Martin.