Eugene Richard Duff (Eugene Richard Button) was born Sept. 12, 1924, in Sandpoint, Idaho, to Beatrice Duff Button and Arthur J. Button. He passed away Sunday, Feb. 1, 2015, at Guardian Angel Homes in Lewiston. Gene's mother passed away when he was 1 and a half years old. He was adopted by his maternal grandparents and his last name was changed to Duff. He was raised and educated in the Asotin-Clarkston area.
Grandma Duff operated a boarding house and Gene often added food to the larder from his hunting and fishing exploits. He loved telling his grandchildren about the "boarding house reach." As long as you kept one foot on the floor, anything you could reach on the table was fair game. Grandma Duff held a special place in Gene's heart; he adored her.
Gene was a World War II veteran and served as a medic in the Battle of the Bulge. He was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion, Eagles and Elks.
Following military service, he attended Kinman Business College in Spokane and after graduation opened an accounting business. For many years he had an office in the Brier Building on Main Street in Lewiston. He moved his business to 21st Street before he and his wife built the Duff Building on 19th Street. Gene was a member of the Idaho Association of Public Accountants and served a term as state president.
He married Doris May Randall in 1942. They had two daughters, Constance Joan and Nancy Jean. The marriage ended in divorce. He later married Yvonne Stevenson. That union ended in divorce. In 1967, he married Josephine Kayler Gilbert. She preceded him in death in 2012.
Gene loved hunting, fishing, shooting, boating, camping and packing in with his donkeys, Poncho, Saila and Little Joe. He spent a lot of hours fishing in the Clearwater River with his father-in-law, Jim Kayler. He had a whitewater boat built so he and Jo could fish and camp on the Snake River.
Gene was preceded in death by his wife, Josephine Duff; his first wife, Doris Kemp; brothers-in-law Marion Kayler and John Kayler; son-in-law Dallas Groseclose; stepson James Gilbert; and great-grandson Vincent Gilbert.
He is survived by his daughters, Connie Groseclose and Nancy (Tom) Blewett; stepson Jack (Patricia) Gilbert; stepdaughter-in-law Dixie Gilbert; grandchildren Lisa (James) Stimmell, Paul (Jill) Groseclose, Philip (Lean) Lee, Christine (Joel) Green, Richard (Charlette) Gilbert, Stephanie Gilbert, Carol Gilbert and Kellie (Rob) Atkinson; and nine great-grandchildren.
The family is grateful to the Guardian Angel staff for the loving care they gave Gene.
A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Monday at Malcom's Brower-Wann Funeral Home in Lewiston.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Lewiston Elks Lodge or the National Rifle Association.
Service Information
- Date & Time
- Monday, February 9, 10:00 AM
- Location
-
Malcom's Brower-Wann Funeral Home
1711 18th Street
Lewiston, ID 83501
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1711 18th Street