Eugene â??Geneâ?? Eddy

Eugene "Gene" Redman Eddy passed peacefully in his sleep on Saturday, August 7, 2021, at the age of 75. Gene was born in Norfolk, VA to Eugene "Boyd" and Alverda (Redman) Eddy on June 7, 1946. He grew up perfecting his bowling game at the Fort Monroe YMCA in VA where his father served as director. His family then moved to Venice, FL, where his lawn mowing and entrepreneurial skills flourished enough to afford him a motorcycle, which he road daily through his high school years. Gene became a skilled guitar player and life-long Gators fan after receiving his masters at the University of Florida in the early 70s. Soon after, he began his 40-plus year career working in public transit as manager of the social services transit program in West Palm Beach, Florida. In 1977, he moved to Shreveport, LA, to begin his tenure with Shreveport's public transit system, SporTran, and eventually became its Director until he retired in 2018. During his time with SporTran, he helped establish the South West Transit Association and served in a variety of capacities with other public transits across the country. Gene dedicated himself to working with the Shreveport community along with city and state administrations to ensure public transportation was available to all. Standing at 6'6", he was a towering figure, but his stature matched his big heart and his ability to treat every person he encountered with respect and a disarming, patient nature. He was often described as a "gentle giant" in memories shared by friends and loved ones. He loved a good steak, a well-balanced sound system, was a voracious reader, golfed a decent game, and could quote any Tom Lehrer song at the drop of a hat. He served on the board of the Shreveport Symphony Orchestra, played blues guitar, classical piano, and was pretty dang good with the harmonica. He had a wonderful sense of humor (yeah at times corny), but always delivered a joke with a twinkle in his eye and a huge grin. He deeply loved his wife, Lynn Eddy, was a wonderful dad to son, Alex Eugene Eddy, his daughters, Lee Eddy (Macon Blair), Robyn Eddy (Donald Leffert), and stepfather to Heather Morgan (Steve Moffatt), and doted on his grandchildren, India, Buck, and Sonny. His parents; his sisters, Melissa Jane MacDonald and Sandy Carolyn Halsey; as well as his beloved son, Alex, preceded Gene in death. His wife and remaining children; his brother, Ernie DeRhone Eddy; grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews survive him. The family would like to thank his home sitters, Teresa, Helen, Joyce, and Yvette, the staff and nurses at Brookdale Nursing Home of Shreveport, and Regional Hospice. Due to current public health risks in our community, Gene's wife and his daughters will honor his life in a private family service. A public celebration of Gene's life will be at a later date. As an expression of sympathy, memorial contributions may be sent to the YMCA of Northwest Louisiana, P.O. Box 566, Shreveport, LA 71162.