Carl Gene was my cousin Jeanine's first cousin who was cared for by Jeanine's parents for several years of his young life. He and I were the same age and were very close boyhood friends. After I started to HS we had a dearth of contact, but continued to check in with one another over the years.

Carl Gene's Mother had totally abandoned him. His Father married five different women. He would sort of torment Carl Gene (who worshipped him) by making short visits from time to time. Always driving a new car and dressed in fine clothes, he would bring gifts and show off for his son. I remember Carl Gene's suffering when his Father would leave him again and again. In spite of Uncle Dayton and Aunt Evaleene treating Carl Gene as their own son, his immature mind settled on blaming them somehow for the fact that he couldn't be with his Father.

Later in life when I had to make decisions concerning the best way to handle being absent from my children, I always remembered this lesson.

Carl Gene Evans (January 1, 1938 - ?)