Gene "Harley" Thayer

"Harley" Gene Thayer, 53, of Clarion, died Tuesday, January 15, 2008 at Wright Medical Center in Clarion.

Funeral services for Gene Thayer will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, January 19, 2008 at the First Lutheran Church in Clarion with Pastor Gary Boen officiating.  Burial will be at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday at the Belmond Cemetery in Belmond.

Visitation for Gene Thayer will be held from 5:00 until 8:00 p.m. on Friday, January 18, 2008 at the Ewing Dugger Funeral Home, 602 North Main Street, in Clarion and continue one hour prior to services at the church.

Gene Ray Thayer, the son of Harley and Elnora McMannus Thayer, was born on July 10, 1954 in Belmond.  He attended school in Belmond graduating from Belmond High School in 1972.  After graduation he worked various jobs throughout the Belmond and Clarion areas.  Gene has worked at EDS in Clarion for the last 23 years.

On June 2, 1979 Gene was united in marriage to Leslie Thompson in Belmond.  This union was blessed with three children.

Gene loved telling stories to friends and could talk to just about anyone.  He was an avid Hawkeye fan, enjoyed listening to tunes on the deck, doing handiwork around the house and playing cards.  Gene also liked watching, cheering (and side-line coaching) his boys in their sporting events, camping and grilling.  He played slow-pitch softball for the Goodell Bears and several other teams for many years.

Gene is survived by his wife Leslie; his 3 children: Dustin, Kyle and Brady; brother, Larry Thayer and his wife Karen; sister, Mary Ellen Lilly and her husband Lester; along with numerous nieces and nephews.