NEWTON — Gene Cline, 51, died Tuesday, January 16, in Hickory NC, after a period of declining health. Born June 27, 1961, in Hickory, NC, he was the son of the late Robert Eugene Cline and the late Marion Gaither Cline.
He graduated high school from North State Academy and earned a BFA in print making, from Guilford College. During his versatile career life, he made his home in Catawba County, Wilmington, Greensboro, Charlotte, and Blowing Rock.
Gene was a talented artist, interior and garden designer, and chef. He approached all of these endeavors with whole hearted passion and creativity. A gracious host, he was the definition of a Southern gentleman, and well known for his fabulous Easter Bonnet parties.
He had a multitude of friends, and enriched the lives of many with his gracious and generous personality, as well as his feisty sense of humor. He enjoyed travel, art, music, cooking, gardening, reading, sketching and painting, writing, and planning a party.
Gene is survived by his sister Mary Helen Cline and her husband Kenyon H. Kelly, aunt and uncle Robert and Grace Gaither, aunt Martha Cline Cobb and many, many cousins. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by aunts and uncles, Nancy and Archie Shuford, Vernon Cline and Margret F. Cline.
A celebration of Gene's life will be held Sunday, January 20, at 4 p.m. at The Hickory Museum of Art, with a receiving of family and friends to follow. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Montessori at Sandy Ford, Newton NC, and the Hickory Museum of Art.
Bass-Smith Funeral Home and Crematory is serving the family.
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