Eugene Correa

It is with deep sadness and much love that we announce the death of Eugene A. “Gene” Correa of Thornton, CO. Gene was being cared for by TRU Care Hospice at Elms Haven Center in Thornton where he peacefully passed away on August 11, 2021, at the age of 62 years. Gene struggled for many years with diabetes, heart failure, leg amputation, and finally, end stage renal disease took his life.

Eugene was born in 1959 to parents Minnie J. (Vasquez) Correa and Ray Correa, Sr. at St. Anthony Central Hospital in Denver, CO.  His parents divorced when Gene was about 2 years old.

Gene attended East High and Emily Griffith Technical College in Denver where he got his GED.

Throughout his childhood, he lived with his mom’s family in Denver. During his late teens, Eugene met and began dating Rebecca (Becky) Hauptman. They eventually moved to Laramie, WY where they both attended the University of Wyoming. They planned to marry; however, Becky was killed in a car accident in May 1982.

Gene started working at a young age at gas stations and at Wyatt’s Cafeteria. He was never one to shy away from work and as such, he wore many hats over the years.  For many years he was a wood moulding set-up machine operator at Rocky Mountain Forest Products in Laramie, a utility worker at Shriner’s Hospital in Portland, OR; a graphic designer at RMD Signs in Denver, as well as being a tow truck driver, food delivery, and courier service until his health dictated his retirement.

In July 1985 he met Susan “Sue” Loomis in Fort Collins, CO. That began a 36-year bond between the couple. Through marriage, divorce, and reconnection, Sue and Gene had quite the journey!  Though their relationship was unconventional, and they endured many ups and downs along the way, through it all, they always loved one another.

They lived in Laramie, Portland, OR and finally made their way back to the Denver metro area in 1991 where they settled down.

The couple had no children but over the years were ‘parents’ to four fur-babies: One cat, Catso and three dogs, Rudy, Chrissy and Missy.

Gene loved music and thoroughly enjoyed his collection of over 1,000 vinyl records – he always said, “CD’s will never replace vinyl!” He was an audiophile at heart and had gotten his stereo system set up just before he went into the hospital in April and sadly, never got the chance to listen to it.

Somewhere along the line Gene developed an affinity for cows. In 2011, just before his triple by-pass, a stuffed cow was purchased at the hospital gift shop. That little cow kept him company through his surgeries and hospital stays. Cow, as he was affectionately known, spent the next 10 years right near Gene! He didn’t want Cow brought to the hospital when all this started 5 months ago, as he feared he would be lost. However, Cow did end up being with him for more than 6 weeks and was with Geno when he took his last breath. Thank you Cow for watching over him!

A private MOO-morial will take place on Saturday, August 21, 2021, at the couple’s home.

Eugene is survived and profoundly missed by Sue, Thornton, CO and Missy, the couple’s fur-baby of 16 years; his aunt, Lydia Vasquez, Lakewood, CO; his uncle, Charles Murillo, Boone, CO; in-laws Karen (Dennis) Harvilla, Lafayette, CO; Jean (George) Sammeth, Arvada, CO; Stephanie Hensley, Heather Hensley, Matt Harvilla, Drew Sammeth, Cahen Taylor, and Nathan Hensley all located in the Denver metro area; special friend and neighbor, Marlene Burress, half-sisters Monica and Sandy Correa, CA; 15 other half-siblings, and many cousins.

Eugene was preceded in death by his parents, grandparents, several aunts and uncles, parents-in-law, and pets Catso, Rudy and Chrissy.

The family would like to thank the staff at Elms Haven Center for caring for Eugene the last few months, as well as the team at TRU Hospice for their care, support, and guidance in the last 4 weeks of Gene’s life.