Dr. Eugene “Gene” Frank Gulish

PARIS, Tenn. - Eugene “Gene” Frank Gulish reached the end of his extraordinary life on June 7, 2022.  He was born in Curtice, Ohio on January 10, 1937.  He was raised on a small farm and graduated from Clay High School in 1955.  He was the first person in his family to graduate from high school.  He attended the University of Michigan for his undergraduate and the Ohio State University for his medical degree.  He completed his residency at Los Angeles County General Hospital, where he met his wife, Christina.  They were married in Los Angeles in 1967.

After completing his residency, he was drafted as a major and served in the Army as an Orthopaedic Surgeon at Fort Polk, Louisiana, during the Vietnam War, where he cared for injured soldiers returning from the war.  He received the Army Commendation Medal in 1971. 

 After being discharged, he and Chris moved to Sebastopol, California, where he practiced medicine at Palm Drive Hospital for 22 years.  In 1994, he was recruited to practice orthopedics at Henry County Medical Center.  When they visited Henry County for the first time, they immediately fell in love with the community and moved to Paris later that year.  He served this community for over 20 years.  After retiring from HCMC, he worked for two years in McKenzie and Huntingdon.  The last few years of his life were spent working on his farm, beekeeping, gardening, and enjoying time with his family.

He was always committed to helping others, and one of his favorite places on earth was Africa.  He combined those two passions and traveled to Africa several times to care for people with orthopedic needs.

Gene was preceded in death by his parents, Bill and Geraldine, his sister, Gerry, and his son-in-law, Sonny Melton.  

He is survived by his devoted wife of 54 years, Chris, and his five children, Heather Melton of Big Sandy, Erin Gulish of Nashville, Laurel (Brad) Beckham of Stone Mountain, Georgia, Jesse (Kesha) Gulish of Puryear, Tenn., and Kristopher (Amby) Gulish of Puryear.  He leaves behind 10 grandchildren, Savannah, Alexa, Ryan, Avery, Brady, Thatcher, Serena, Maverick, Gatlin, and Wesson, and two great-grandchildren, Baylor and Steely.  He is also survived by his brother, Bill, and sisters, Susie and Laraine. He also leaves behind his beloved dogs, Sadie and Otis.

Arrangements are being handled by Ridgeway Funeral Home, 201 Dunlap St, Paris, Tenn. 

Visitation is Wednesday, June 8, 2022, 4 to 7 p.m. at the Commercial Building of the Henry County Fairgrounds, 517 Royal Oak Drive in Paris, and continues Thursday, June 9, 2022,  1 to 2 p.m. 

A Celebration of Life is Thursday, June 9, 2022, at 2 p.m. at the Henry County Fairgrounds Commercial Building.

A Catholic funeral mass is Thursday, June 9, 2022, at 3:30 p.m. at Holy Cross Catholic Church, 1210 East Wood Street in Paris for family and Holy Cross parishioners.

A private family burial will be at the Gulish Family Farm.