Eugene Charles Michaels

Eugene Charles Michaels "Gene", 85, of Decatur died of natural causes on Saturday, April 27, 2019 at Emory-Decatur Hospital.

Gene was born October 25, 1933 in Chicago, IL, son of the late Willard H. Michaels and Bernice Haas Michaels. Gene was raised by his grandfather, Charles Barton Michaels, in Oxford, Indiana. He was a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps, having served during the Korean War. He worked long hours at the steel mill while he put himself through college, graduating from the American Television Institute of Technology. Gene worked as an electronics engineer for Perkin-Elmer in the 1960s where he proudly worked on the Hubble Space Telescope. Throughout his lucrative career, he ran various small businesses. He was the proprietor of Cherry Hill Builders, Maple Shade Lumber and Glass Oven Bakery. After receiving his real estate license, he found his true calling as a real estate professional working as a commercial executive for Coldwell Banker and as a Facilities Manager for Scripps Enterprises. Gene prided himself on his rise from humble beginnings to successful businessman.

Gene loved to travel and will be remembered as a hardworking, determined go-getter, full of fun-facts and insight into the world around him as well as a devoted husband and father. He was quick to lend a hand to those in need. He will truly be missed.

Survivors include his wife, Janet Lawhorne Kincaid Michaels; daughter, Sylvia Michaels Harrell and her husband, Nathan; son Charlie Michaels; step-daughter, Jill Kincaid; step-son, Elliott Kincaid; grandchildren, Melanie Harrell, Julian Dilbeck, and Sailor Dilbeck; brother-in-law, Donnie Lawhorne and his wife, Gail; sister-in-law, Jean Phipps and her husband, Ken; niece, Kim Nyden and her husband, Jerry; and several great nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, Gene was preceded in death by a grandson, Chad Harrell; brother, Robert C. Michaels; and sister, Joanne K. Michaels Myers.

The Reverend Gerald Varner will officiate a service to celebrate the life of Eugene C. "Gene" Michaels will be held on Tuesday, May 14, 2019 at 11 a.m. in the Chapel of A.S. Turner and Son's Funeral Home, 2773 N. Decatur Road, Decatur, GA 30033. The family will receive friends at the funeral home one hour prior to the service.

In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully asks that donations be given to “Keep the Spark Alive Foundation”, an organization determined to bring awareness to and prevention of teen suicide. Donations may be given online at https://gkccf.kimbia.com/keep00 or by sending a check made out to “Keep the Spark Alive”, 12525 Grand Ave, Kansas City, MO 64145. Please reference that the donation is in memory of Gene Michaels.