Vale, Gene Gordon Gene Gordon Vale, 93, passed away on July 12, 2017, peacefully surrounded by his loving family in Phoenix, Arizona. Gene was born on January 19, 1924, to William and Casa Vale who were truly an Arizona pioneer family. Gene's grandfather, Frank Perkins, was granted the first permit by the BLM to operate the marina at Apache Lake. Gene's parents had the very first business at the southeast corner of 16th Street and Camelback (Vale's Texaco Station and Café). Gene attended elementary school at Madison School at 16th Street and Missouri and then North High School before being drafted. He spent three years of service in the Navy. After returning to the United States, Gene owned and operated his own greyhound racing kennel for over fifty years and won championships at Phoenix Greyhound Park, Mile High Kennel Club (Denver, Colorado) and Derby Lane (St. Petersburg, Florida). In 2008, Gene was inducted into the Pioneer Section of the National Greyhound Hall of Fame. Gene lived a long and happy life with his wife of 42 years (Lillian). Gene had one brother, Bill, that preceded him in death. Gene is survived by his wife Lillian, daughters Kathy Neville, Dianne Sims, son Larry Vale and stepdaughter Shelly Slayton, granddaughter Crystal Anderson (Andrew), great-grandson Brody, Diane Sims' grandchildren Barbara Jean Devote and Duane Sims and great grandchildren Hannah and Bayleigh, Lillian's grandchildren Jesse and Sarah Pope and Kristina Luthringer, and many nieces and nephews. Visitation will be from 8:30 – 9:30AM with the funeral at 9:30AM at Messinger Mortuary, 8555 E. Pinnacle Peak Road, Scottsdale, Arizona. Burial will follow at 11:00AM at the National Memorial Cemetery (VA) of Arizona.