Raymond "Gene" Tester

Raymond Eugene "Gene" Tester, age 61 of Gray, passed away at home Friday, October 25, 2013. Gene went to be with the Lord after a brief illness. He always had a smile and willing to help a friend. Gene loved spending time with his family, his grandchildren, and working on his old cars. He will be greatly missed by many friends and family. He was born in Maryland and was a son of the late Raymond Jack and Anna Bess Owens Tester. He worked as a machine operator at American Water Heater. In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by brothers-in-law, Eddie Rice and Charlie Winegar. Gene is survived by his wife, Lorene Winegar Tester; son, Raymond Eugene "Ray" Tester, Jr. and girlfriend, Wilma Jean Shepherd; sisters, Barbara Rice, Carol Phillips and husband, Dave; brothers, Tom Tester and wife, Teresa, Bill Tester and girlfriend Gina; sisters-in-law, Stella and Truman Calton, Ruth and Clyde Gillenwater, Gertrude and Ralph Lark; brother-in-law, Jimmie and Wanda Winegar; grandchildren, Marissa Tester, Dillon Tester, Nicholas Tester; several nieces, nephews, aunts and uncles. The family will receive friends Monday evening 6 - 8 p.m. in the Gray Funeral Home Chapel . Services will follow at 8 p.m. with Pastor Shannon Courtner officiating. Burial will be Tuesday 11 a.m in Thacker Family Cemetery in Surgoinsville. Pallbearers are Ray Tester, Tom Tester, Lester Tolly, Billy Merryman, Danny Story and Tommy Johnson. Honorary pallbearer is Earl Kitzmiller. This obituary is a courtesy of Hux-Lipford Funeral Home