Obituary of Eugene Roy Estep

Eugene Roy Estep, age 67 of Hartsville, passed away Sunday, October 31, 2021. Gathering of Friends will be Saturday, November 6th from 2:00 – 5:00 p.m. at Family Heritage Funeral Home. Online condolences may be submitted at familyheritagefh.com. The full obituary that has been lovingly written by his family is below: Eugene Estep of Hartsville Tennessee left this world on Sunday October 31st 2021 at the age of 67. He is preceded in death by his father Ernest Estep, mother Virginia Quinly, brother Billy Estep, sister Velma Estep, and nephew Scott Dunlavy. He is survived by his sons Chris Estep (Tammy Mcconnell), Eugene Estep II (Jeanne Estep), and Jonathan Estep, daughter Venus Estep, grandchildren Christian Estep (Rylee Estep), Eugene (Tres) Estep III, Shaiden Estep, and Sebastian Estep, nephews Jimmy Dunlavy and Charles Rothschild, and niece Virginia Dunlavy. A Gathering of Friends will be held at the Family Heritage Funeral home in Gallatin Tennessee on Saturday November 6th from 2:00 P.M. until 5:00 P.M. Eugene was born in Amherst Ohio on March 29th, 1954. He was affectionately called Gene by his friends and family. Gene moved to Mobile, Alabama with his family when he was a child where he developed an extreme fondness of the ocean and all things related to the water that he held with him throughout his life. Gene later moved with his family to Chesapeake Ohio and, as a teenager, excelled in pole vaulting where he held the highest feet pole vaulting record for many years after his graduation. In his twenties, Gene learned how to drive semi-trucks and this was his main profession throughout his life with him becoming an owner operator for many years. Gene settled in Tennessee in 1987 and called Hartsville his home for the latter part of his life. Gene loved music and won a Grammy in Ogden, Utah with the bluegrass band New Grass Review, often labeled the “Renegades of Bluegrass”, in 2004. One of the most important things for Gene was his love of his family and friends. There was nothing that he would not do help anyone in need and often put off his own needs for the benefit of someone else. Gene was great with his hands and there was nothing that he could not figure out, fix, repair, or fabricate. He was often called the “Wizard” because his accomplishments seemed unbelievable and like magic. He absolutely loved animals, especially dogs. Gene enjoyed fishing, hunting, muscle cars, wizards, dragons, and riding his Harley. Gene passed away in the presence of love surrounded by his family and his partner Sue Short. “There are many mountains and valleys in life. It is how you conduct yourself in the valleys that make you the person you are when you are standing on top of the mountains.” - Gene Estep