Samuel "Capt. Gene" Maddox

Samuel "Capt. Gene" Maddox, 66, of Cape Carteret, passed away Thursday, March 26, 2015 at Crystal Coast Hospice House in Newport, NC surrounded by his family.

A funeral service will be held 4:00 pm Tuesday, March 31, 2015 at Morris Chapel United Methodist Church in Sanford, NC with the Rev. Gregg Presnal officiating. Interment will follow in the church cemetery.

Gene served with the Sanford Police Department. Although he grew up on a tobacco farm he fell in love with the ocean at the age of 2 years old. He moved to Cape Carteret over 38 years ago, and worked as a charter boat captain and owner of the "Ranger" and the "Tripoli" and others for 20 years, and 18 years he worked with the Little River Yacht Club on the "Last Foot". He served with the Coast Guard Reserve for six years. He has been everywhere but the electric chair and seen everything but the wind was Capt. Gene's favorite sentiment. Gene thought of the ocean as his church and never felt closer to God than when he was on the water.

He is survived by his wife of 42 years, Jessie Mills Maddox; daughter, Wendy Maddox and partner Della Brooks; grandchild, Krislynn Maddox; his beloved chocolate lab and best friend, Cocoa; and brother, Gary Clarence Maddox and wife Donna; sister-in-law, Barbara Maddox.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Clarence and Virginia Maddox, and a brother, Ira Edwin Maddox.

The family will receive friends 6:00 - 8:00 pm Monday at Munden Funeral Home, as well as one hour prior to the funeral service at Morris Chapel United Methodist Church in Sanford.