Gene SelbyGene Selby (Darrel Gene Selby), 83, passed away January 22, 2017 in his home on Table Rock Lake. Gene was the only child of Sophronia Hassell Selby and Leo Selby. He was born on December 29, 1933 in Sperry, Oklahoma. He spent his early childhood on his family farm located twenty miles west of Skiatook, Oklahoma in Osage County. This pioneer homestead was the stopping place for all sorts of travelers and neighbors. Thus, Gene's love of people began early in his life. Gene's mother was a rural schoolteacher; and he spent his elementary years under her tutelage in one-room schoolhouses of Osage county. He attended Skiatook High School and graduated in 1952. After high school, he worked local jobs and then enrolled in the US Army. He was stationed in Germany with the 18th Battalion; despite his color blindness, his job in the Army was truck driver. Upon honorable discharge from the Army, he moved back to "the farm" and married the smart girl who lived across the creek known as Flossie Mae Switzner. He and Flossie were married on October 18, 1957. His only child, Lora, was born on January 6, 1961. He spent 15 years employed with Oklahoma Tire and Supply OTASCO in Tulsa OK.He and Flossie had fallen in love with the Ozarks and searched for property on which they could pioneer a business. Through friends in Cape Fair, in 1976, they found and purchased their property on Y-40 now known as Buttermilk Spring Rd. In 1979, they built their home and the store building and started their dream of operating their own business -- a café and general grocery store on the lake, and named it Selby's Cedar Ridge.Gene and Flossie were the sole proprietors and adapted the business to meet the needs of the community. In the early eighties, there were few year-round residents and the lake was the playground for Springfield, St Louis, Kansas City, Tulsa and Chicago folks who wanted to "get away" and did not want to haul in their groceries or supplies. Later, they enlarged the tackle section and carried live bait, sold fishing and hunting permits, added gas pumps and video rental. Although customers requested them to sell alcohol, they never did. This decision helped to keep the store centered on family and as the official visitor center for the community and the place you could get the latest news on the happenings on Y Hwy. Gene and Flossie ran this business for 22 years. Gene loved the woods, the wildlife and most of all the people. He was a father and husband, a real pioneer, an entrepreneur, a mentor, and above all a friend. Gene's friends were as close as family. His immediate family of Flossie, Lora and his son-in-law, David Kincade, welcome you, as family, to his memorial service:Saturday, February 4, 2017 2:00 pmCedar Ridge Baptist Church742 Buttermilk Spring RdGalena, MO 65656We invite you to stay afterwards to share food and memories with us in celebration of his life. Come and visit with old friends and make a new friend in his honor. In lieu of flowers, we prefer donations to Cedar Ridge Baptist Church, 742 Buttermilk Spring Rd, Galena, MO 65656 or to Y Hwy Cemetery c/o Doti Wenners, 681 Hardin Hills Dr., Galena, MO 65656 or a .