Gene Louis Davis, 77, a lifetime rancher of Grant County, died Nov. 10, 2017, at Rapid City Regional Hospital, Rapid City, South Dakota.

Gene was born on Feb. 5, 1940, in Hyannis to Anastasia Julia Emma Breuhaus and Harry Alger (Pard) Davis Sr. He attended school in Hyannis, graduating with the class of 1957.

Following high school graduation, Gene worked at the family ranch for John Sibbitt as a hay contractor and carpenter. He lived in Texas for a short while working for his brother and wife, James and Twila.

He enjoyed everything that involved cattle and spent many years working as an artificial inseminator for local ranchers in addition to servicing his own cattle. This resource provided the opportunity to sell breeding bulls to local ranchers.

In his retirement years, he mowed hay for the Henderson’s and loved to work in his garage with all of his wood projects.

On Oct. 29, 1965, Gene married Jeanne Kay Crumroy in Hyannis. They recently celebrated 52 years together.

Gene loved the sport of rodeo. He participated in bareback riding and bull riding as a young cowboy. In later years, he was always willing to assist young people wherever needed to advance their rodeo dreams. He and Jeanne sponsored the Hyannis High School Rodeo Club for 46 years, and he was also a member of the committee organizing the local Nebraska State Rodeo and Hyannis Old Timers Rodeo.

Gene enjoyed watching and listening to any Nebraska Cornhusker sport. His idea of a perfect day was to have family, friends and good food watching the Huskers or a good rodeo on TV.

He was a founding director of Pelican Beach Golf Course Hyannis, a member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie 136 and a founding member of the Hyannis High School Rodeo Club.

Gene was fortunate to be the recipient of a kidney transplant at Porter Adventist Hospital in Denver on Dec. 1, 2010. He always commented, “I’m not tied to the machine any longer” and was thankful to his donor.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Pard and Stasia; four brothers, James, Harvey and wife Ella (Hinton), Leonard and wife Josephine “Jo” (Blaylock) and Harry Jr.; two sisters, Marian and husband Raymond (Dave) Austin and Anastasia (Ana) Smith.

He is survived by his beloved wife, Jeanne; sister, Helen (Tom) Stroud of Arvada, Colorado; sister-in-law, Twila (Carpenter) Davis of Quitman, Texas; and brother-in-law, George “Bud” Smith of Sheridan, Wyoming; godson, Wyatt Thurston of Big Valley, Alberta, Canada; goddaughter, Ashlyn Henderson of Hyannis; several nieces and nephews; and a host of wonderful friends.

Memorials are suggested to the Hyannis Area Community Foundation, designated for the Gene Davis Rodeo Scholarship or to the donor’s choice.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Mountain time on Thursday, Nov. 16, at the Hyannis Congregational Church with Pastor Deb Johndreau officiating. Burial will be at the Hyannis Cemetery. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mountain time, with the family present form 2-5 p.m., on Wednesday, Nov. 15, at the Mullen Funeral Home, which is in charge of arrangements.