LaVelle, M. Gene (Dalton)

Monday, May 30, 2016

M. Gene LaVelle, 82, of Dalton, Georgia, died May 29, 2016 with his wife at his side.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Sarah and James C; mother-in-law, Kitty Dunkel; and father-in-law, Harry Dunkel.

He was born July 4, 1933 to James C. and Elma Sarah LaVelle in Greenville, OH. He graduated from Brookville High School in 1952 and shortly thereafter began his lifelong career in the flooring industry as a salesman for Eidelman Bros of Dayton. He began his journey through the carpet industry with Collins & Aikman followed by Shaheen Carpets and Normandy Carpets. He started his first carpet company, Dyvelle Carpets with Bruce Dyer. Later he founded LaVelle Textile Marketing, which merged in 2003 Niche Graphic Flooring where he retired in 2015. His fondness for animals led him to start Abbie Critter Sitters.

From a very young age, Gene was an avid horseman. His other interests included boating. The owner of two cruisers named “The Good Ship Lollipop”, Gene could often be found on Lake Chickamauga with friends and family. He especially enjoyed the outdoors, gardening and spending time with his children and grandchildren.

Gene is survived by his wife, Sharlene LaVelle formerly of New Mexico; daughter, Brenda LaVelle of Dalton; sons and daughters-in-law, Scot and Christine LaVelle of Rocky Face and Blair and Belinda LaVelle of Tunnel Hill; step-son and wife, Jack and Susan Mayberry of Richmond, VA; step-daughter, Sherlyn Lujan of Raton, NM; grandchildren, Alex LaVelle of Atlanta, Jonathon LaVelle and wife Aubrey LaVelle of Dalton, Daniel LaVelle and wife Sydney LaVelle of Tunnel Hill, Meridith Ashley LaVelle of Athens, Stephen LaVelle of Tunnel Hill, William LaVelle of Rocky Face and Zachary LaVelle of Rocky Face; step-grandson and wife, Bart and Katherine Hill and family; step-granddaughters, Jennifer Stollings of Amarillo, TX; great-grandchildren, Abigail, Amelia and Henry Hill of Tunnel Hill, Steffany Boucher of Dallas, TX, Ava and Andie Stollings of Amarillo and Jonah Boucher of Amarillo,TX.

A memorial service will be held Thursday, June 2, at 4 p.m. at the Rocky Face Chapel of Julian Peeples Funeral Home.

The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Thursday, June 2, from 2-4 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations to The American Cancer Society, First Church of the Nazarene or First Baptist Church of Dalton.

Funeral arrangements are by Julian Peeples Funeral Home, Rocky Face.