U.G. "Gene" Horn

U.G. “Gene” Horn, 93,  of Dry Fork, passed away peacefully at his residence on Wednesday, June 26, 2024. He enjoyed good health and spirits until his last day.  A native of Inez, KY, he was the son of the late James and Patsy Muncy Horn.  He  was preceded in death by his beloved wife Betty Cureton Horn, a son James Gregory Horn, and a great-granddaughter Eleanor James Horn. Also preceded in death by 14 siblings. 
Gene was a 1949 graduate of Inez High School, where he played basketball for the Inez Indians. He often bragged about being at school before daylight so that he could practice, this story served as a motivational speech to several generations.  After high school he joined the US Army.  He completed basic training at Fort Knox and was then stationed in Stockton, California until his honorable discharge in 1953. He then went on to attend and graduate from Eastern Kentucky University in Richmond in 1958.  While at EKU, he met and married his wife Betty.  Upon completion of their degrees they both began teaching school in Inez. He became the head basketball coach and Betty was the cheerleader sponsor. A short time later their sons Chester David and James Gregory were born.  In 1962, the family moved to Whitesburg and Gene and Betty found a love for the Yellowjackets while teaching at Whitesburg High School. Gene served as assistant basketball coach, head basketball coach, assistant high school principal, middle school principal and high school principal.  He retired from Whitesburg High School in 1987 and later worked with his sons at Horn and Associates, Inc. 
Gene was fortunate enough to be retired for more years than we he worked. During these special years he got to enjoy being Pappaw. He passed the time by fishing and camping with his family.  He  loved supporting and attending UK and EKU sporting events. He was also a member of the Masonic Lodge and Oleika Shrine. 
Left behind to remember him are his son Chester David (Jody) Horn;  daughter-in-law Valerie Ison Horn; grandchildren; Callie (Josh) Blair, Grant (Alyshia) Horn,  Amy Horn, Kaitlyn Horn, great grandchildren; Eliza Jane Blair, Owen Gregory Blair, Amelia Gene Horn, and Gwendolyn Ruby Fellows. Additional survivors include siblings Lou Ann Hammonds, Nancy Collier, and F.D. Horn; sister-in-law, Ida Cureton Wright. He also leaves behind several nieces and nephews were very special to him. 

Funeral: 1:00 O'clock P.M. Saturday, June 29, 2024 at the Letcher Funeral Home Chapel with Frank Holbrook officiating. Visitation: 6:00 P.M. Friday at the Letcher Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will follow in the Thornton Cemetery at Thornton, Kentucky.

In lieu of flowers Contributions are Suggested to: 

Dolly Parton Imagination Library c/o Whitesburg Rotary Club
P.O. Box 406 

Whitesburg, KY 41858

Cowan Community Center or Action Group  or Redbuds are Not Red Scholarship Fund
P.O. Box 268 
Whitesburg, KY 41858

Alzheimer's Disease Center (University of Kentucky)
Sanders Brown Center for Aging
Lee Todd Jr. Building
789 S. Limestone