Gene Olson

Lawrence Eugene ?Gene? Olson of Harrisonville, Missouri was born May 14, 1926 the son of Lee Lawrence and Goldie Fern (Duvall) Olson. He departed this life on Sunday, January 23, 2011 at Benchmark of Harrisonville at the age of 84 years, 8 months and 9 days. On September 5, 1948, Gene was united in marriage to Bonnie Lea McNeill in Lockwood, Missouri. Gene was the University of Missouri Extension Agent for Cass County, Missouri upon the recommendation of F.E. ?Jack? Rogers, State Extension Agent. He arranged for Gene to join Mr. Hunt in Cass County as the Extension Balanced Farming Agent. He later was employed as a farm appraiser for Archie State Bank in Harrisonville and Archie, Missouri for 10 years. Gene served from 1987 until 1994 as the Missouri State Representative of the 124th. District. Gene was a member of the United Methodist Church, Harrisonville, Harrisonville Lions Club and was an Army veteran of World War II. His early education was from Cross School and was a 1943 graduate of Lockwood High School. He attended from Southwest Missouri State College, Springfield, Missouri and received his Master?s Degree from the University of Missouri, Columbia. Gene was friendly, outgoing and was willing to help anyone in need. Besides his parents, Gene was preceded in death by his wife, Bonnie on May 19, 2010; his daughter, Kathryn Lefman on January 30, 2006. Gene is survived by a daughter, Karen Olson, Harrisonville, Missouri; two grandchildren; Lori Nation and husband, Milt, Tampa, Florida, Adam Lefman, New Orleans, Louisiana; a great-granddaughter, Alexandria Hope Nation; a sister, Bonnie Cummins, Miller, Missouri; other relatives and a host of friends.
Funeral services will be 10:00 a.m. Sat., Jan. 29, 2011 at the United Methodist Church, Harrisonville, Missouri.
A graveside service will be 3:00 p.m. Sat., Jan. 29, 2011 at the Gray?s Point Cemetery near Lockwood, Missouri.
Family will receive friends from 6:00-8:00 p.m. Fri., Jan. 28, 2011 at the Dickey Funeral Home, Harrisonville, Missouri.
Family suggests memorial contributios may be made to the Alzheimer?s Assoc.