W. Eugene Barentine

W. EUGENE "GENE" BARENTINE, 79, passed into eternal life on Sept. 9, 2016, as a result of pulmonary fibrosis, in Hospice SVI North in Sherwood. He was born to Emily and Orville Barentine Sr. in Cabot on April 11, 1937. Gene graduated from North Little Rock High School in 1956, and attended college at Midwestern State University in Texas on a football scholarship until the program closed. Later he obtained an associate degree from UALR in Criminal Justice. Most of his career was devoted to law enforcement. He served as a North Little Rock policeman for 23 years, retiring as a Captain in 1983. He joined First South Savings & Loans as director of security, then Savers until the closing of all savings & loan facilities. Afterwards he was an instructor at the Law Enforcement Training Academy in Camden, a driver's license examiner and probation officer at NLR Municipal Court, working with his friend Judge Jim Hamilton. Gene then joined two friends in founding and co-owning CDL Testing and Training in Little Rock for five years. After his second retirement, he began a part-time career as a bailiff at Sherwood District Court, working with one he adored, Judge Butch (Milas Jr.) Hale. He loved this job and enjoyed once again working with and around other policemen, reluctantly retiring on his 78th birthday. Gene was still a policeman at heart. One of the highlights of his law enforcement career was the privilege of attending the National Law Enforcement Training Academy for three months in Quantico, Md., in 1974. He enjoyed cruising with his wife and special friends Pete and Mary Peterson. Gene is survived by his wife of 23 years, Betty Barentine; his children, Keith (Tammy) Barentine and Kerri (Wayne) Kocourek; three granddaughters, Hannah (Pat) Anderson, Jessie (Jo) Yaebeang and Johnna (Justin) Harmon; great-grandsons, Cohen Anderson and Titus Yaebeang, and expecting first great-granddaughter, Hayden Grace Anderson; two step-children, Rodney Farley and Tammy Walloch; step-grandchildren, Holly Ricketts, Jeremy Farley, Kacy Forrester, Madison, Cade and Garrett Walloch; step-great grandchildren, Payton and Blake Parker, Hudson Ricketts and Isla Forrester; and the mother of his children Nancy Veazey Barentine. He is also survived by his brother, Orville Buford (Peggy) Barentine Jr. Gene was preceded in death by his parents, Emily and Orville Barentine. Gene has been a member of Second Baptist Church in Jacksonville since 1993. He enjoyed golf and spending time at Hickory Creek Golf Course with his friends. When his health failed golf was replaced by dominos at the golf course. Funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2016 at the Second Baptist Church, 1117 North James Street, Jacksonville. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service. Burial will follow at Sumner Cemetery in Cabot. A drop in visitation will be from 12-6 p.m. on Monday, September 12, 2016 at Smith North Little Rock Funeral Home, 1921 Main Street. Arrangements by Smith–North Little Rock Funeral Home. Online obituary at www.SmithFamilyCares.com.