GENE SPEICHER

PERRY – Franklin Eugene “Gene” Speicher, 84, passed away on Wednesday, June 11, 2025. Services will be held on Monday, June 16, 2025, at Watson-Hunt Funeral Home. Visitation will begin at 1:00 p.m., and the funeral will begin at 2:00 p.m. Interment will be in Perry Memorial Gardens immediately following the service. In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests memorial contributions to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105. Gene was born in Berrien Springs, Michigan, to the late Franklin and Lorraine Wagner Speicher. He graduated from Bangor High School in Bangor, Michigan. He lived in Tampa, Florida, for a while then moved to Perry, where he has lived since 1976. Gene was a Maintenance Technician at Continental Can from where he retired after twenty-four years of service. An avid outdoorsman, he enjoyed hunting and fishing. Gene was a member of the Warner Robins Seventh Day Adventist Church. Gene was preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Lorraine Speicher; a brother, Harold Speicher; a sister, Betty Jo Thompson; a son, Franklin Eugene Speicher, Jr.; a granddaughter, Christie McConnell; his loving wife, Carolyn Parris Speicher; and a sister who passed away the day before Gene, Helen McCallister. Left to cherish the memories they made with Gene are his children, David Stephenson (Deirdre) of Plains, Dale Stephenson of Murfreesboro, TN, Diana Reynolds (Jimmy “Buster”) of Gray, and Donnie Stephenson (Tammie) of Perry; thirteen grandchildren; nineteen great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; his siblings, Calvin Speicher (Rose) of Auburndale, FL, and Dale Speicher (Carole) of Florida; his daughter-in-law, Lisa Speicher; and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews. The family would like to convey special gratitude to the staff of Hands of Hope. Their attention to and care of Gene were exceptional and greatly appreciated. Condolences for the family may be left in the online guestbook at www.watsonhunt.com. Watson-Hunt Funeral Home has been entrusted with the arrangements.

Tributes

GENE SPEICHER

August 10, 1940 - June 11, 2025