Garland Eugene (Gene) Provin was born March 4, 1933 in Ridgeway, MO. He was the son of Garland and Mary Provin.
Gene grew up on a farm north of Ridgeway, MO and loved everything outdoors. His only sister Patsy Ann was born 3 years after Gene and their family of four spent many hours taking picnics at creek to fish and cut wood. Gene was baptized at the age of 12. Gene met the love of his life, Ellen Marie Polley, at the Ridgeway Fox Hunt in 1950. They were married May 18, 1952 at the home of her parents, Homer & Beatrice Polley. Shortly after Gene was drafted into the Army where he served 2 years in the 82nd Airborne. They returned home to Bethany, MO on April of 1955. Gene farmed and drove trucks in the Harrison County area for several years.
Gene loved playing music and was part of a country band for many years. His band was featured on Saturday night for several years at Garl Clark's Wagon Wheel. Gene went on to be a parts man for Drex Hatten's International Harvester. Their first daughter, Teresa Marie Provin was born May 1, 1955 and their second daughter, Janesa, was born November 20, 1959. Their son, Jeff Provin, was born January 6, 1972 and their family was complete. As a young boy, Gene became interested in the funeral business while washing cars and helping Bob Boggess with his business in Ridgeway, MO. His daughter Teresa and husband Bill Slaughter bought the Stoklasa Funeral Home in Cainsville, MO in September 1977. Gene and Ellen became licensed funeral directors and bought the Ridgeway funeral home. In 1981, the four of them built a funeral home in Bethany, MO.
In 1983, they moved to St. Joseph where Gene worked at the Heaton-Bowman- Smith Funeral Home. He retired in 1998.
He and Ellen had many happy years traveling the United States before moving to Broken Arrow, OK.
Ellen passed away May 16, 2020. Gene soon moved to Bartlesville, OK to a retirement home where he made many friends.
He was preceded in death by Ellen, his parents, Garland and Mary Provin, sister Patsy Hall, son-in-law, Marty Lademann as well as many aunts, uncles and cousins.
Gene is survived by his daughter, Teresa & Keith of Bartlesville, OK, daughter Janesa Lademann of Elyria, OH and son Jeff & Rachel Provin of Broken Arrow, OK. 15 Grandchildren- Jason, Jeremy, Josh,Joel, Kimberly, Katie, Owen, Cory, Blake, Lauren, Ethan, Evan, Dylan, Karys and Presley. 21 Great-Grandchildren- Brittany, Ivee, Sam, Charlie, Keesha, Jade, Aubrey, Jaxon, Kinzie, Jonas, Elijah, Bella, Norah, Lillah, Jude, Paige, Marleigh, Kaedan, Peyton, Wyatt & Toby. 8 Great-Great Grandchildren- Myla, Indy, Navee, Aster, Ellie, Nova, Hugh and Thatcher. Brother-in-Law- Kenneth Hall and sister-in-law Elaine Barber.
Funeral Service will be 10:00AM Saturday, May 10, 2025 with visitation starting at 9:00AM both at Moore's Southlawn Chapel. Moore Southlawn