Gene Arthur Leary, Sr. of Matlacha Isles, Florida passed away on September 14, 2016 after a battle with cancer. Gene was born October 13, 1940 in Charleston, South Carolina where he resided until 1970. His family moved to Atlanta in the summer of 1970 where they resided until December 1972, at which time they moved to Pensacola, Florida. After getting his start in offshore fishing in the mid ‘60s in Charleston, it was in the community of Gulf Breeze, across the bay from Pensacola, that Gene became involved in running fishing tournaments. He was the founder of the Gulf Breeze Optimist Fishing Tournament in 1975. In the Summer of 1978, the family moved to Jacksonville Beach and in 1984 Gene moved to Palm Valley where he would reside until 1996. Gene was the primary founder of the Greater Jacksonville Kingfish Tournament in 1981. In 1982, Gene bought the property at Mickler’s Road west of A1A in Palm Valley where he would own and operate GL’s Oar House until the mid ‘90s before turning the business over to an employee. He married Alice Carbone on April 1, 1985 and in 1996 they began traveling the country in an RV. Through the years, they would pass back through the Palm Valley “Redneck Riviera,” as the area was known, to check on the business and catch up with old friends. In 2008, and after visiting the area for over 10 years, Gene and Alice settled in Matlacha Isles, Florida. He enjoyed fishing in Matlacha Pass and hanging out with friends in the historic village of Matlacha and Big Pine Island.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Arthur Jarvis Leary and Dorothy Alexander Leary, a brother Frank E. Leary and a stepson, William Carbone.
He is survived by his wife of 31 years, Alice of Matlacha Isles, one son G. Arthur Leary Jr. (Rameca) of Gulf Breeze, Florida, two stepsons, Dennis Carbone (Donna) of Atlanta and Bobby Isaac (Debbie) of Jacksonville Beach, five step-grandsons, Sage, Dennis Jr and Daniel of Atlanta, Chase and Christian of Jacksonville Beach, and the mother of his son, Bette Young Hund of Jacksonville.
A celebration of life service will be held at noon on October 22, 2016 at Pine Island Community Church. In lieu of flowers, the family wishes that donations be made to Hope Hospice 9470 Health Park Circle, Ft Myers, Florida 33908. Arrangements by Mullins Memorial Funeral Home & Cremation Service (239) 242-0909.