RUMFORD – Gene L. Cote, 78, of Mexico, died Tuesday, March 22, at the Rumford Community Hospital.

He was born, May 21, 1926, in Rumford, a son of Omer and Rose Marie (Arsenault) Cote. He attended Rumford schools, graduating from Stephens High School. He went on to study at Grande Seminaire de Montreal to become a priest.

He married Jacqueline Poulin of Rumford and had three children. He later remarried to Anne Ellingwood, March 18, 1987, at St. Theresa’s Catholic Church in Mexico.

As a young man he worked in sporting camps on Mooselookmeguntic Lake which he enjoyed very much. He later worked in maintenance at Boise Cascade in Rumford, retiring in 1973. He was a communicant of St. Theresa’s church in Mexico and was a member of the Knights of Columbus. He was also active at the Beacon House in Rumford. He enjoyed the outdoors, reading and watching his cats play.

He is survived by his wife, Anne of Mexico; former wife, Jacqueline of Scarborough; two daughters, Michele Cote and Pamela Cote of Scarborough; two stepdaughters, Marjorie Kennedy of Dixfield and Cathy Jordan of Brownville Junction; two sisters, Edith Libby of Windham and Alberta Edwards of Casco; four grandchildren, Benjamin Cote, Tyrene Child, Taja Overdorf and July Miller; six great-grandchildren, including, Morghan Packard, Seth and Nathan Child.

He was predeceased by a brother, Omer; sister, Eleanor Fabyan; and by a son, Jamie.