If auto body repair was considered an art, than my friend Gene would have been a master artist.

He eyed each of his projects, weather it be a small dent in a car door, or a badly wrinkled hood, with the same intensity as Rebrandt might have looked at a blank canvass.

If Gene agreed to take a job, he worked hard to make sure his client was satisfied. Before he started a project, he would run his hands along the area of the car that needed to be repaired, feeling for any hidden dents he might have not detected with his eyes. He didn’t want a flaw, he couldn’t see upon his original inspection of the job, to show up after he got started.

Gene’s studio was a one stall, white-washed garage that sat on the corner of his lot behind his home just outside of Garner. Over the years, he probably spent as much time in his garage as he did in his house. Gene just loved what he did.

Gene’s extraordinary talent for fixing wrecked automobiles was known throughout the eastern half of this state. His specialty was painting. People Gene had never met before, but had heard about his skills, sought him out to paint vehicles for them. Several years ago, a man asked Gene if he would paint a few of his cars that were going to be entered in a car show.

I couldn’t begin to even count the number of cars that Gene fixed for me over the years. I do know that he saved me a lot of money, and I was always pleased with his work. Once, a few years ago, Gene fixed a bumper for my wife, Sharon, after she accidently backed into a pole. Gene loved to see the expression on people’s faces when they inspected his work. I still remember the look of disappointment in Gene’s eyes when he saw that I had arrived to pick up Sharon’s car without her. He had done an amazing job on the car and he wanted to be there when she saw it for the first time. I called Gene the next day just to let him know how thrilled Sharon was when she saw her car. A man like Gene, who takes great pride in their work, deserves a pat on the back when they do a good job.

Gene’s career as an “artist” came to an end on May 28. Sadly, he passed away after courageous battle with an illness. Those of us who knew Gene will miss him for many years to come. He was a kind, good man who did what he could to help his fellow man.

Usually, when I stopped to see Gene, I would find him in his garage working on a car. When I asked him what he was doing, he would flash a smile and say, “I’m just piddling around.” Of course Gene’s work was a lot more than “just piddling,” but, that’s just the way he liked to describe what he did.

I sure hope there will be a lot for Gene to “piddle” with in Heaven. And, just maybe there will be a garage there too. After all, that’s where he did his best piddling.