Donald Eugene "Gene" Whyte, 68, of Montgomery City, MO, died on Tuesday, October 19, 2021, at the Landmark Hospital in Columbia, MO.

Donald Eugene Whyte was born on May 16, 1953 in Montgomery City, MO, to Donald Payne Whyte and Madge Dunbar Whyte.  He graduated from Elsberry High School and was a self-employed construction worker, as he helped many people around the area.  Gene married Karen Cornelius on May 19, 2012 in Montgomery City, MO, and have been married for over nine wonderful years.  Gene was an avid hunter, fisherman, and trapper and just recently was inducted into the Trapper's Hall of Fame.  He enjoyed having fish fries and visiting with all his family and many friends, as he never met a stranger.

Gene was a true outdoorsman. Hunting, fishing, and trapping were his passion along with his family. He passed down that passion to his grandkids every chance he got by never missing an opportunity to take them either deer hunting, turkey hunting, or fishing. They will forever cherish these memories. Gene didn't only pass on his love of trapping, hunting, and fishing to his own family, he also helped put on the area trapping and hunting clinics for many, many years to help the area youth find their own passion for the outdoors. He will forever be missed by his family and the many outdoorsmen who had the privilege to work with him or know him.

Gene is survived by his wife, Karen Cornelius Whyte of Montgomery City, MO; children:  Robert James and wife, Kimberly, of Silex, MO; Matthew James and wife, Courtney, of Montgomery City, MO; Kyle James and wife, Jessica, of Middletown, MO; and Kristopher James and wife, Morgan, of Bowling Green, MO; and eleven grandchildren: Carter, Keenan, Lexee, Maddox, Kenzee, Trey, Kadence, Kameren, Maverick, Klay and Jaksten.  Also surviving are his brothers and sisters: Bill Whyte and wife, Kathy; Gary Whyte and wife, Kay; Vickie McKay; and Rita Radil and husband, Terry; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts, uncles and friends.

Gene was preceded in death by his parents, Donald Payne Whyte and Madge Dunbar Whyte.

Funeral Services will be held at 12:00 PM on Monday, October 25, 2021 at the Schlanker Funeral Home in Montgomery City, MO.  Interment will be in the Sunrise Memorial Gardens, north of Montgomery City, MO.  Mr. Stan Carroz will officiate.  Visitation will be held on Monday, from 9:00 AM until the time of service at the Schlanker Funeral Home in Montgomery City, MO.  Casketbearers include Robert James, Matthew James, Kyle James, Kristopher James, Tanner Brandenburg, and Donnie Gilbert.

Memorial contributions may be made to

https://mochf.org/help-us-get-kids-outdoors-a-50-donation-provides-supplies-for-a-hunting-or-fishing-clinic/

or you can send in care of Schlanker Funeral Home, 207 Danville Road, Montgomery City, MO   63361.