Gene F. Callaway

Eugene “Gene” F. Callaway died on Friday, Nov. 18, 2022, in his daughter’s home in Salida, Colorado. After living with Dementia for more than a decade, he was cared for in his final days by his two daughters, his granddaughter, and a team of dedicated and caring hospice workers.

Gene was born in February 1934 in Claremore, Oklahoma, but spent most of his childhood in Louisville, Kentucky.

He married the love of his life, Loretta Bane Callaway, in June 1959. Together, they raised their daughters – along with an affectionate menagerie of dogs, cats, and horses – in Kentucky and Colorado. Gene worked in sales before establishing himself in real estate. As a developer, he made his career building apartments, subdivisions, and hotels.

Gene was known for his competitive and determined nature, his mischievous and playful sense of humor, and his protection of those he cherished most. He was a quiet person who showed his love by giving, often helping family members and strangers in their greatest hours of need. Undoubtedly, he will be remembered by many for his generous spirit.

He will also be remembered for his many passions, big and small. Gene loved flying through the clouds in small, four-seater airplanes. He kept his challengers quite literally on their toes playing ping pong and tennis. He was a fan of cheap wine and complex math problems. He knew nearly every Jeopardy answer before the competitors and was rarely stumped by the newspaper’s crossword puzzle. He was a wiz at chess and a formidable opponent to anyone brave enough to challenge him to gin rummy, bridge, or, frankly, any card game.

Gene introduced his friends and family to some of the all-time greats in music, from Chopin and Tchaikovsky to Rodgers & Hammerstein and Cole Porter. He was a concert-level pianist and few things brought him more joy than being surrounded at his Steinway grand by loved ones singing as he played.

Gene was preceded in death by his parents, Nellie McCoy and Lawrence Callaway, his sister, Francis Joyce Duchscherer, and his beloved wife of more than 50 years, Loretta. He is survived by his two brothers, Robert and John Callaway, as well as his daughters, Lisa Pate and Jennifer Ricci, his son-in-law, Michael Pate, and his grandchildren, Tim, Natalie, and Tristan.

A virtual celebration will be held on Dec. 18, 2022, at 3 p.m. MT for all wishing to remember Gene and a life well lived. Please join the Zoom meeting at https://bit.ly/3U9D6Fn or by using Meeting ID: 884 7789 5765 and Passcode: 608975.

In lieu of flowers you may make a donation to www.stjudes.org in Gene's name.
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