In Taunton, Eugene L. Gorey passed away on April 24, 2018 at his home following a lengthy illness. He is survived by his beloved wife of 55 years, Marilyn (McDonald), his sons Michael and his wife Patricia, Mark and his wife April, and Jonathan; grandsons Daniel, David, Brian, Brendan, Jason, Tyler and his granddaughter Ashley as well as several great grandchildren, nieces and nephews. Gene was the son of the late Lewis J. Gorey and Eileen F. (Foley) Gorey and close nephew of the late Taunton Fire Chief, Edward Gorey, and brother to Nancy Hanna and the late Edward Gorey. He was also the brother in law to Robert L. McDonald, Kathleen LaFlamme, Barbara Holgerson, Mary McDonald and the late Brian McDonald.
Gene was born, raised and lived his entire life in the City of Taunton. He graduated from the Monsignor Coyle High School, class of 1952, following his early education at the Immaculate Conception Grammar School. A Korean War veteran, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy where he served from 1952-1957 as part of the US Navy’s amphibious and submarine forces. Following his military service, he worked as a bookkeeper at the former Pierce Hardware Company prior to becoming the secretary to Mayor Cleary in 1960. He worked in city government from 1960 through 1978 originally as secretary to the mayor followed by work as the clerk of committees. He was then appointed as Treasurer of the City of Taunton, a post he held until 1978, during which time he guided the city through major fiscal changes including financing the expansion of the TMLP. He also worked for over twenty years as the mutual manager at the former Taunton Dog Track and later at the Raynham-Taunton Dog Track, served as treasurer to the Mayor’s Worthy Cause Committee, was deeply involved in various other local government boards, including as a former director of the Taunton Gaelic Society, and was a Notary Public for over 55 years. He finished his working career in 1995 following 10 years at the Bloom Bus Company of Taunton.
An active and devout catholic, Gene was a former member of the St. Vincent De Paul Society, a proud parishioner of the former Immaculate Conception Church, later a parishioner at both the former Sacred Heart (Annunciation of the Lord Church) and St. Jude the Apostle Church. He was active in church life beginning in his youth as an altar boy, as an active participant in the Sacred Heart Choir and the many shows they produced under director Joanna Alden, and, along with his wife Marilyn, as moderators of the Novena to the Sacred Heart.
Gene lived his life with commitment, but always with a sense of humor. He was a lifelong fan of sports, especially baseball, and a devotee of both music and classic movies. Rare was the time that someone was in his presence without him either telling a story about the old days or a joke, oftentimes both. Funeral home visiting hours will be held at the O’Keefe-Wade Funeral Home, 70 Washington St., Taunton, Ma 02780 on Friday, April 27th from 4-7 pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday at the Annunciation of the Lord Church at 11 am. Burial will be in the family lot in St. Joseph’s Cemetery in Taunton. Donations in lieu of flowers may be made to the St. Vincent De Paul Society; Birthright of Taunton or Our Daily Bread.