Gene DeVere Bottom

Gene DeVere Bottom was born on February 3, 1933 in near Bucks Grove in rural Jackson County, Kansas to Rueben LeRoy and Eva Mae (Kroth) Bottom.

Gene attended rural Bucks Grove grade school, Soldier Rural High School and Wichita University. He served in the United States Army from 1953 through 1955, attaining the rank of Corporal. He worked as a drafting supervisor at Boeing Airplane Company and Cessna Airplane Company (Fluid Power Division). In 1977 he began work as a Design Draftsman at Borton Inc. He retired from Grain Belt Supply in 1998.

Gene was a member of the South Hutchinson Christian Church and served as an elder until he relocated to Bennington, Kansas. In Bennington he attended the Bennington Bible Church. He enjoyed woodworking and spending time with family was most important. Square dancing and traveling the gymkhana circuit were enjoyable times spent together.

On April 13, 1958 he married Kathyleen K. Puckett. They shared 23 years of marriage before her death on March 8, 1981. Gene remarried on May 8, 1993 to Mary Josephine Bunch. They enjoyed 17 years of marriage before her death on December 26, 2010.

Gene is survived by his children, Darren (Sheri) Bottom of Little River, and Tricia Gomez of Hutchinson; grandchildren, Morgan Bottom of Little River, André Tipton of Hutchinson; sister, Elizabeth (Betty) Smith of Beattie.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wives, Kathyleen Bottom and Mary Bottom; brothers, Ralph, Albert, and Verne Bottom; and sisters, Wilma Ross, Goldie Krebs and Lorah Mae Wyatt.

Cremation is planned with graveside services to be held at 2:30 p.m., Thursday, December 4, 2025 at Buhler Municipal Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Reno County or Sandstone Heights Nursing Home in care of Buhler Mortuary, PO Box 589, Buhler, KS 67522.