of Gene Yang
always grimacing hoping I could hold his wheel; as he pulled off the front, always that little smile letting us know he had thoroughly enjoyed dishing out a little pain -in a good sort of way. He also had a tendency to sneak away from the table during a meal and when it came time to pay, we would learn Gene had picked up the tab (something he and Wes loved to do). Hiking the Grand Canyon rim to rim or cycling to Picacho Peak and climbing to the top, then riding home. I miss
truck and only suffered a left knee injury, cuts, and scrapes. He soon returned to dental practice, and we now have two beautiful sons. It’s been 5 years since we said goodbye to my dad, but we will never forget. Every day with Phil and our boys is a bittersweet reminder of that miraculous day. In the midst of incomprehensible loss, we have hope. Anyone can be a member of the Gene Yang Gang. It’s easy - just aspire to leave this world better than you found it.
him, Janelle. And I, and we, are so much better to have had him for the time that we did. He and Greg (Brecher) both. Good men, good dads, good friends. He made us all better people. Take care. — Kevin Burns
E
very morning when I get up I see Gene Yang. It is only a photograph of him displayed in one of our book cases in our bedroom but it has the effect of taking me back a few short years ago when I was with Gene at least once a week . Every Friday morning I drove into
CASA GRANDE 100 YEAR CELEBRATION
Gene’s driveway at 5:30 A.M. to pick him up for our weekly climb up Signal Peak outside of Casa Grande. We hiked to the top regardless of the weather and always remarked to each other how lucky we were to stand on the summit of a fairly steep desert mountain and watch the sun come up. We laughed that New Yorkers did not know what they were missing! Gene was not big on conversation but I knew he loved those hikes as much as I did. My hiking buddy
JOHN SKELLEY
ran outside and pleaded to the helicopter flying overhead that the news wasn’t true. The news, of course, was that a freight train had collided with my dad’s F-250. My dad, Gene Yang, had been hunting javelina near Newman Peak with my husband, Phil Horsley. On their way home, at an unmarked crossing, authorities think he was checking the opposite direction when their truck crossed the tracks. My dad died on impact, but miraculously, my sweet husband was thrown from the
5 Year Tribute
has been gone now for five years. I wonder what kind of mountain Gene now is hiking and what, like the New Yorkers, am I missing. At least till I meet up with Gene again. — John Skelley
F
ive years ago on February 12, 2010 my friend Gene Yang died in an accident on a beautiful afternoon in view of Picacho Peak and Neuman Mountain. I miss him every day. We humans struggle to fully understand the eternal aspect of our lives, but this
much we know, our life is a gift from God. When the mortal season of our lives comes to its end our fleshly seed will fall into the ground and through Faith in Jesus Christ our eternal spirit will arise to join Jesus Christ forever in God’s Heavenly Kingdom. It is this knowledge of the Truth of Gene’s new heavenly home that allows me to fully be thankful for his love and friendship with a clear sense of hope and joy in knowing that we will all see him again and bask in the presence
of his love. To paraphrase Gene’s extraordinary friend Eric Wilkey, “As each of us travel towards the summit of this mortal life to the gateway of heaven we know when we arrive to the eternal city of God our friend Gene will be waiting close to Jesus to welcome us home.” Thank you Gene for your love, for your goodness, for your smile and for pouring your life into all of us in all the important ways! I love you Gene. Amigos Para Eternidad, — Wes Baker
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