Eugene (Gene) S. Cantrell Jr. passed away on Jan. 16, 2025, at his home in London, Ky., with his family by his side. He was 77.

Gene was born April 7, 1947, in Jellico, Tenn., to the late Eugene S. and Mary St. John Cantrell. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by Aunt Nora and Uncle Leland Murray, Grandparents James H. and Sue Cantrell, and nephew, Jason Sharp.

He is survived by Alice Smith Cantrell, his Wife of 39 years; Son Eugene S. Cantrell III (Pamela) and Daughters Melissa Noonan and Catherine Jane Godfrey; Grandchildren Abby Cantrell, John Charles Clarke Jr., Henry Harrison Clarke, Pearce Fitzgerald Clarke, Miles Hudson Godfrey, Theodore Noonan, Bennett Noonan, and Lincoln Noonan; Sister Fran Cantrell England, and one niece, three nephews, and several great-nieces and nephews.

Gene graduated from Powell High School in Powell, Tenn., in 1965. In 1963 he won the Junior Journalist of the Year Award from the Greater Ohio Civic and Journalism Club. He was awarded the honor two years later, the only person to win it twice. He was named to the All-American Team for his contributions to journalism as a high school student.

He attended Cumberland College in Williamsburg, Ky. During his sophomore year, he was drafted into the Army and served in Vietnam, where he received a Purple Heart for injuries and a Bronze Star for helping to save children in a burning schoolhouse. He later attended the University of Tennessee and Western Kentucky University.

After discharge from the Army, Gene spent time working for his family's newspaper chain in Tennessee and Kentucky. However, his journalism career began at age 10 when he wrote for the Jellico Advance-Sentinel. He later served as managing editor of the Corbin Times Tribune, leading the newsroom to several awards from the Kentucky Press Association and Thomson Newspapers. He served as president of the Western Kentucky Press Association in 1991.

He was involved with the Republican Party, working on the Ronald Reagan presidential campaigns as a field representative in the 1970s and '80s, and for other candidates in the South.

Gene was an avid baseball fan, especially the Dodgers, and a collector of baseball cards and memorabilia. He wrote an award-winning column about baseball for the Kentucky Associated Press from 1989-95.

In addition to newspapers, Gene worked in television and radio in Bowling Green, and public relations in the travel industry including the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green and Opryland Hotel in Nashville.

A Celebration of Life will be held April 5, 2025 at 1:00 p.m. EST at the First Baptist Church, 525 S Main St., Jellico, Tennessee. Receiving of Friends to follow the service.

In lieu of Flowers, A Scholarship Fund has been set up in Memory of Gene. Send to: Jellico High School, Gene Cantrell, Jr. Scholarship Fund, 141 High School Lane, Jellico, TN 37762.

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