Gene Edward Christiansen was born on November 11, 1938 at his parent's home in the Houston Heights.  He was a sixth generation Texan.

As a child, he enjoyed hunting and fishing with his family.  His father taught Gene how to fish and run a boat at a very young age.  They enjoyed many trips to the Colorado River camping and running trot lines, and also fishing in Galveston Bay.

Gene met the love of his life, Evalynn Williams, in high school, and they married very young.  He always worked hard to provide Evalynn with a home and almost everything she wanted.  For many years, he always gave her a rose every Friday.  He always supported her activities and was the wind beneath her wings.  His career began at the Houston Coca-Cola Bottling Company where he progressively moved up the ladder into management both there and at several other organizations.

Gene and Evalynn welcomed daughter Kimberly 2 years after marrying and son Todd Edward nine years later.  Even though there was an age difference between them, Kim and Todd were always very close, and Gene was so proud of that fact.  Gene was a devoted father and spent much time coaching sports to his children, and encouraging them in pursuing their own interests and creating their own individual lives.  He stressed honesty, integrity, hard work and love of family.

Gene always enjoyed water sports – including becoming an almost expert waterskier.  He taught both of his children to ski and the family spent many, many weekends on Lake Somerville, Lake Conroe and Lake Travis enjoying happy days skiing and boating. He also enjoyed deep sea fishing and scuba diving in Mexico, Belize and Hawaii and salmon fishing and white water rafting in Idaho.  The mountains in Rocky Mountain National Park held a special place in his heart.

Gene and Evalynn both loved to travel and see other parts and cultures of the world.  They visited 17 different countries, all independent trips planned by Evalynn.  His favorite vacation was a photographic safari in Kenya and Tanzania in Africa, where he danced with the Maasai people and enjoyed seeing all the many animals in the wild.  After that trip, he would never visit a zoo again – recognizing that animals are best seen in their natural, free habitat.

Best known by his friends as an outdoor type guy, he also enjoyed ballet and the theater and especially productions in the West End of London when he accompanied Evalynn on her trips to see Judi Dench perform on stage in England and he even enjoyed a stage production of Les Miserables in Oslo, Norway.  While in Norway, he visited the Kon Tiki museum and saw the original Kon Tiki balsa raft which was an item on his bucket list.  He was fascinated by the theory that suggested the Pacific islands were settled by two distinctly different migration waves, both coming via the Americas by balsa rafts. His favorite book was "The Kon Tiki Expedition" by Thor Heyerdahl who built and sailed the Kon Tiki to prove that theory.

Gene loved his old country house in Grimes County and spent as much time there as possible. He chose to be buried in the historic Lake Grove cemetery there.

Gene is predeceased by his daughter, Kimberly Buchanan, parents Luther and Ellen Christiansen, brother Milton, and his much loved father and mother in law, Weldon and Eva Williams.

He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Evalynn, son and daughter-in-law Todd and Paula Christiansen, brother Bart and son-in-law, David Buchanan.  Also, grandchildren Melisa Buchanan, Britany Lowry, Jake Christiansen. Morgan Christiansen and great-grandchildren, Kaylee, Madison, and Kyle Islet, Tyler and Owen Lowry, several nieces, nephews and cousins.

Gene was loved and respected by his family members and friends.  He was Papa Gene to his family and Mr. Mean Gene to his son's friends.  He will be greatly missed.

Memorial Donations Can Be Made To: Chihuahua Rescue