Mrs. Imogene "Gene" Behannon

Mary Imogene (Hale) Behannon passed from this life on October 24, 2014 in Lufkin. She was known to most as "Gene" and was born near Smithland in Marion County on May 31, 1924 to the late Norman and Pearl (Moore) Hale. Gene graduated from Carlisle High School in Price and Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches. Her teaching career spanned 50 years with 30 of those years in public schools in Texas and 20 years as an educator at Southern Baptist College, (now Williams Baptist College) in Walnut Ridge, Arkansas. The last 18 years, she was a teacher for Henderson schools, from which she retired in May 1994. Gene married Dr. Woodrow (Woody) Behannon of Lufkin on July 23, 1946 in the Carlisle Baptist Church in Price. They were married over 50 years before his death in June 1997. Moving from Arkansas to Henderson in 1976, Gene joined First Baptist Church and was a member of the Radio Bible Adult Sunday School Class. She served for several years as the secretary for the Heritage Association and assisted her husband, Dr. Behannon, in supervising tours and special happenings at the Howard-Dickinson House. She held membership in the local and State Retired Teachers of Texas, was a member of the Eastern Star, and was a participant in the Silver Star organization of the local Chamber of Commerce. Gene was also a member of AAUW and B&PW organizations when these clubs were active in Henderson. Survivors include: aunt, Helen Moore of Bossier City, LA; nephews, Jim Miller and wife Denise Cunigan of Huntington, and Rusty Welch and wife Ann of Virginia; great-nieces, Donna Gardner, Dawn Cotton and husband James Eckles, and Debra Elliott, all of Lufkin, and Tara Boulware and husband Jimmy of Zavalla. Funeral services for Mrs. Behannon will be held at 11 am on Tuesday, October 28, 2014 in the chapel of Crawford-A. Crim Funeral Home with Dr. David Higgs officiating. Interment will follow at Rusk County Memorial Gardens under the direction of Crawford-A. Crim Funeral Home. The family will receive friends from 10 am until service time on Tuesday at the funeral home. Pallbearers will be Nick Gardner, Danny Elliott, Jimmy Boulware, Bob Lofton, Bob Baker, and Aaron Lofton. If desired, memorial donations may be made to the Library Media Center of First Baptist Church at 207 W. Main St., Henderson, TX 75652, the Howard-Dickinson House, c/o Rusk County Heritage Association, PO Box 820, Henderson, TX 75653, and/or the Felix Goodson Library at Williams Baptist College, c/o Pamela Meridith, 60 W Fulbright Ave., Walnut Ridge, AR 72476. Words of comfort may be shared with the family at www.crawfordacrim.com.

Mrs. Imogene "Gene" Behannon

May 31, 1924 - October 24, 2014