Herbert Puckett

Herbert Eugene Puckett, 79, of Burlington passed away on Tuesday, December 29, 2009 at the Hospice Home. "Gene" as he was called by friends and family began his life in Elbert, WV on February 7, 1930. Born a coal miner's son, he was instilled with an extraordinary work ethic. He began his very long working career in a factory in Elizabethton, TN, then he worked at a movie theater, then as a janitor with the now defunct Railway Express Agency REA. Gene rose through the ranks at REA with each promotion taking the family to a newer larger city. When he retired from REA, he was the manager of the Washington, D.C. office. In 1974 Gene moved to High Point, NC and began work at the Bulk Mail Center in Greensboro. While employed by the U.S. Postal Service, he rose to the position of Plant Manager and was routinely sent to other bulk mail centers, with his own hand-picked team, in order to bring all of the country's centers up to the standards he had set at the Greensboro center. Gene retired from the Postal Service in 1999. He was also a long-standing member of Toastmasters in Greensboro. Gene's lovely wife, Patsy Lee Anderson Puckett predeceased him on Thanksgiving Day in 2004. He is survived by his three daughters, Deborah Gast of Burlington, Deanna Tom Green of Burlington and Robin Barber of Key Largo, FL; three grandchildren, Holly Barber of Tampa, FL, Patrick Barber of Ft. Myers, FL and Jacob Green of Burlington. Born one of seven children, he is survived by only three sisters, Catherine Honeycutt of Elizabethton, TN, Judy Hendricks of Soddy Daisy, TN and Mary Tripplet of Mountain City, TN. He was preceded in death by his wife, parents, son, David Puckett, sister, Bessie Marshall and brothers, Bill and Paul Puckett. The family wishes to publicly thank the caretakers, Tasha Overbey, Kizzy Amar, Bessie Watkins and Carol Blalock, who assisted in keeping Gene at home and comfortable until just days before his death. The family also extends thanks to the Friendship Adult Day Center and the Hospice Home of Alamance-Caswell. The funeral service will be held at 1:00 PM Saturday, January 2, 2010 at Lowe Funeral Home Chapel by Rev. Ben Bishop. The family will receive friends from 11:00 to 12:45 prior to the service at the funeral home and at other times at the residence. Gene will take his "last trip over the hills" and be buried alongside his loving wife at McCarty United Methodist Church Cemetery in Jonesborough, TN. The graveside service will be held there at 12:30 PM Monday, January 4, 2010 with visitation prior to the service from 10:00 12:00 at Dillow-Taylor Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Friendship Adult Daycare Center, 1946 Martin St., Burlington, NC 27217 or to the Hospice Home, 914 Chapel Hill Rd., Burlington, NC 27215.