Eugene "Gene" Morris Ackles

Eugene Morris Ackles, of Kosse, passed away peacefully at home on Sunday, July 16, 2017, at age 88. Eugene was born in Indianapolis, IN. on September 2, 1928 to John B. Ackles and Nina M. (Roberts) Ackles. After graduation, he served in the U. S. Army-Air Force from 1946 through 1949, stationed in Mississippi, and was a radio repairman. After his discharge, Gene moved to California and while attending Riverside City College, he met Eileen Hammerschmidt. Gene and Eileen were united in marriage on June 20, 1951. Gene had a life-long devotion to learning. While working and supporting his family, he attended night classes in Los Angeles, and earned a Bachelor’s degree, followed by more night classes, earning two Masters’ degrees in Engineering and Mathematics. Gene was an Aerospace engineer, working in the aircraft and aerospace industries for North American Aviation, NASA, Northrup Corporation, McDonnell Douglas and Boeing. He helped design the flight simulators for Apollo Missions 8-12 and used his computer programming skills in his work for North American. He retired in 1987 and moved to Texas to be nearer his daughter and family. For the last thirty years he lived at Groesbeck and later Kosse. Gene retained a great curiosity all his life. He was always reading and studying scholarly subjects in which he was interested, and had excellent recall of the information he had learned. Through the years, he amazed his family with discussions on his interests in space, other countries, the pyramids and many more subjects. Even in the last few days of his life, he was helping his granddaughter answer trivia questions for her phone game. Having raised four children and the grandfather to many more, his greatest interest was in his grandchildren and great grandchildren, and most recently his great-great granddaughter, all of whom he dearly loved. Gene was preceded in death by his parents; a son, Ronald Allen Ackles in 1959, and a grandson, Shane Ray Sexton in 2005. He is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Debi and David Jackson of Kosse; son, Randall Ackles of Eureka, CA; and son, Richard Ackles. He is also survived by his former wife and now his special friend, Eileen Malony of Groesbeck. The beloved grandchildren include: Shermane and husband Gypsy Bean of Groesbeck; Wesley and wife Cherokee Sexton of Groesbeck; Richard Sexton of Groesbeck; April Thomas of Kosse; Ashlee Jackson and fiancé Bryan Shiflett of Groesbeck; Hahn Ackles of Eureka, CA; Liana Ackles of Eureka, CA; Austin Ackles of Healdsburg, CA; and Grace Ackles of Healdsburg, CA. Great and great-great grandchilden are: Morgan and husband Stetson Staggs and their daughter Hallee Kate Staggs of Killeen; Payden Bean of Groesbeck; Makenzie Sexton and Savannah Williams of Groesbeck; Kestler Sexton of Groesbeck; Braydon Sexton of Jewett; Shayne Sexton, Ava Sexton and Bella Sexton of Groesbeck; Dillon Thomas and Jackson Thomas of Kosse; Ryleigh Thomas of Kosse; Stetson Hanson of Hewitt; Audree Hanson of Hewitt; Kellan Jackson of Teague; Kelsey Shiflett of Groesbeck; and Ian Wright of Corsicana.