Eugene "Gene" W. Hardy passed away peacefully with his family by his side on Monday, November 28, 2011. He was born in Pasco, Washington on November 12, 1923 to William and Mariella Hardy where he attended school and met his beloved wife, Clara, whom he married on March 23, 1949. Gene was a member of the U.S. Army from 1943-1945, serving in the Pacific during World War II. He began working for the Northern Pacific Railroad in 1945 in Pasco. Northern Pacific eventually merged with other railroads and would become the Burlington Northern Railroad. His railroad career would take him to Spokane, Washington and Billings, Montana, where he would retire as the manager of freight equipment for the Billings Region on January 1, 1982. Gene was a lifetime member of the First United Methodist Church of Kennewick and was instrumental in starting the senior group there. Gene lived in Kennewick, Pasco, Spokane, Billings, and returned to the Tri-Cities in the mid-90's, where he and Clara established themselves at Canyon Lakes Retirement Village and made many friends. Throughout Gene's life, he became known as the ultimate volunteer, receiving awards from his church, fire department, and various Veterans' organizations. When Gene and Clara lived in Spokane they were nominated for the Good Neighbor Award and after two months of living at Northpointe Retirement Community in 2008, Gene received the Resident of the Month Award. Gene's greatest joy was his family and friends. He had a reputation for being the best guy, buddy, or friend, a girl or guy, could ever want. Through the years he became known as the Mayor of Montclair, Green Thumb Gene, and Handyman Gene. Gene enjoyed hunting, fishing, and gardening. He was famous for growing roses. Some of his rose bushes grew to six feet tall and produced the most beautiful flowers. After retirement, and often as possible, you could find Gene wandering in the neighborhood, in his garden, or attending many of his grandchildren's activities. Gene was preceded in death by his wife of 59 years, Clara, parents, three brothers and four sisters. He is survived by daughter, Nancy Wayne Rau of Spokane; son, Robert Tami Hardy of Everson, WA; daughter, Myrna Henderson of Billings, MT; son, William Paula Hardy of Coon Rapids, MN; eleven grandchildren: Timothy JulieAnn Rau, Andrew Brighid Rau, Heather Casey Lange, Don Hurd, Jennifer Mychal Hoffman, Chad Lindsey Hardy, Shawn Hardy, Bill Hardy, Kyle Hardy, Kenssee Hardy, and Ashley Hardy; ten great-grandchildren: Sydney Hardy, Levin Hardy, Trevor Rau, Alayna Hurd, twins Emma and Noah Hardy, Payton Hoffman, Mason Hoffman, Riley Hardy, and Ryker Hardy; two sisters-in-law, Maria Hardy of Pasco, and Virginia Gerber of Folsom, CA; as well as many nieces, nephews and other extended family and friends. The family would like to express their heartfelt appreciation to the staffs at Northpointe Retirement Community, Regency, Peterson Place, and Hospice of Spokane for making Gene's last year's comfortable and serene. A memorial service and celebration of life will be held on Monday, December 5th, 2011, at 1:00 p.m., at First United Methodist Church, 2 South Dayton Street in Kennewick. Private burial and military honors were held at an earlier date. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations made to Hospice of Spokane, PO Box 2215, Spokane, WA 99210 or First United Methodist Church of Kennewick.