English Eugene Nye

English Eugene Nye (Gene) passed away May 10, 2022 after a long health struggle. Gene was born July 24, 1934 to Parker Nye and Susan Louise Britt Nye. Orphaned at an early age, Gene was raised by his older brother Clinton Nye and his wife Mildred and their daughter, Marie Nye Williamson. He graduated from Evergreen High School in 1952.  In 1955, he married Willa Dean Bryant of Cerro Gordo and they had two daughters Gloria and Jennifer Nye.

In 1954 he enlisted in the US Army. He was a member of the 82nd Airborne and led the motorcycle convoys for the Military Police. He was stationed in Fort Bragg during the Korean Conflict. After serving his country with a fierce bravery, he worked as a prison guard and was promoted to Warden. Gene attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Governor’s School of Wildlife and Forestry. He was certified as a Wildlife Protector and remained a loyal Tar Heel fan to the end. He used his excellent management skills in the textile/manufacturing industry for over 40 years, even traveling to many NAFTA parts of Mexico for five years.  After a brief retirement at the age of 70, he found his dream job as a part-time security guard at a South Padre Island resort during spring breaks. Oh what fun! At 70 years old (when he was sometimes older than the residents) he embarked on a new management and marketing career with the Independent Living Community at Holiday Retirement Corporation for over 10 years before retiring again at the age of 80.

Gene was civic minded and spent many volunteer hours in Lions Club, Civitans, Elks, Volunteer Rescue Units and the Jaycees where he went from “Spark Plug of the Year” to “Exhausted Rooster.” He was an avid golfer and a poker player to be reckoned with. On his 79th birthday he enjoyed a motorcycle road trip from Austin, Texas to Kitty Hawk, NC and back for a total of 3000 miles in a mere 10 days. He was a loyal and devoted member of Lakeside Baptist Church in North Myrtle Beach where he enjoyed the Thursday morning bible studies.

He is survived by his wife of 38 years, Diane Nye, one daughter Jennifer Nye Wise and her husband Brian and son Adam of Charlotte, NC;  stepsons Alex Carter of Virginia and Chad Carter, his wife Nikki and daughter Rachel of Garner, NC; son-in-law Edwin Kinard Fennell, Jr. of Rockingham, NC; grandson Trey Fennell and his wife Melanie and two great-grandchildren Owen and Esme of Mechanicsville, VA; granddaughter Carly Fennell McKay and her husband Daniel and great-grandchildren Rhett and Ivy of Rockingham, NC, and numerous nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his daughter Gloria Nye Fennell of Charlotte, NC, brothers Clinton, Avery, Lynwood, Hal, and Waldo Nye, and his twin sister Louise Inman Lawson.

Family and friends are invited to a Life Celebration to be held Saturday, May 21st at 1:00pm at Lakeside Baptist Church, 615 11th Avenue North, North Myrtle Beach.

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