Eugene A. Armont “Gene” died Feb. 14, 2005, at his home on Whidbey Island. He was born in 1926 in Great Falls, Mont., to Joseph and Julia Armont. He grew up and attended school in Geyser, Mont.

In 1944 he joined the Army and was stationed on Adak in the Aleutian Islands, where he served two years. Following his discharge, he returned to his home town and was associated with the Court House Service Station and Garage in Stanford, Mont. He was also a business partner in Farmers Union Garage in Geyser. In 1959, he joined the Army Corps of Engineers at the time the Minute Man Missiles were being installed in central Montana. He was a dispatcher of motor vehicles. When the project was completed he transferred to the Seattle District of the Corps of Engineers working in maintenance and emergency operations where he completed a 30-year career. The final 15 years, Gene was chief of maintenance operations for the Seattle district. He was involved with core drilling and preparation of building Libby Dam in northwest Montana and other dams in the state of Washington.

Gene lived in Lake Stevens while commuting to Whidbey Island after purchasing property and clearing the timber. He built a shop where he could continue with his passion of working on motor vehicles. In 1966, he moved permanently to Whidbey Island with his wife, Bobbi. They enjoyed making a home and garden and planting shrubs and trees together on the property. He volunteered at the Greenbank Farm during which time he took great joy in restoration of the old farm equipment. When he heard a motor running just right it always made him smile for a job well done. That smile and the twinkle in the eye, the sense of humor he displayed will always be remembered.

He was a member of South American Legion Post 141 and the Senior Services of Island County.

He was preceded in death by his parents and stepson Mark.

He was survived by his wife Roberta “Bobbi” of Greenbank; a brother Robert and sister-in-law Blanch Armont; nieces and nephews of Salem, Ore.; Roberta’s children Bing Schmitt( Pam) and their children of Stanford, Mont., and Del Lyn Henderson (Larry) and their children of Plentrywood, Mont.

There will be a celebration of his life 2 p.m. Saturday at 3589 Smugglers Cove Road in Freeland.