Lester "Gene" Eugene Cockrell

Lester “Gene” Eugene Cockrell, 80, of Cape Carteret, passed away on Friday, April 14, 2017 at Carolina East Medical Center in New Bern.

Gene honorably served in the US Army, worked with Farm Bureau in Raleigh, then moved to the beach and started Majestic Muffler in Emerald Isle. Gene was the owner and operator of Gene’s Heat Pump Service. Gene attended Emerald Isle Baptist Church for almost 20 years. He loved boating, fishing and working in the yard. He had a passion for making things beautiful. Gene was a quiet and generally unassuming man that made friends easily. The family will miss him dearly and feel blessed to have known him.

A memorial service will be held at 2:00 PM, Tuesday, April 18, 2017 at Emerald Isle Baptist Church with Pastor Fred Braswell officiating.

He is survived by his loving wife Carolyn Cockrell of the home; sons, Troy Cockrell and wife Julia of La Jolla, CA, Steve Caldwell and wife Marsha of Coco Beach, FL; brothers, Elton Cockrell and wife Jennette, Jerry Cockrell and wife Jan, Wayne Cockrell and wife Pat, Johnnie Cockrell and wife Frances; sister, Shirley Britt and husband David; grandchildren, Tyler, Alex, Stella; many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; Johnny Lester Cockrell and Pansy Holland Cockrell and nephew, Rodney Cockrell.

Flowers are welcome or donations may be made to the Emerald Isle Baptist Church, 304 Emerald Plantation Rd, Emerald Isle, NC 28594.

Online condolences may be made at www.mundenfuneralhome.net

Arrangements are by Munden Funeral Home & Crematory, Morehead City, NC.