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Gene Tobey, age 60 of Santa Fe and formerly of Port Aransas and Mason,
Texas, passed away Wednesday January 4, 2006 at a local hospital
following a lengthy illness. He was born May 26, 1945 in Utah to James
G. and Annabelle Tobey. Mr. Tobey was a well known southwestern
sculptor, known for stylized animal sculptures with his trademark line
drawings incised into the surface. Gene began his career as a
sculptor/potter and taught sculpture, pottery and three dimensional
design at Casper Community College in Wyoming and Linn-Benton Community
College in Albany Oregon. In 1985, he and Rebecca married and blended
their five children into a family. He began collaborating with Rebecca
shortly after their marriage, showing in art galleries across the United
States. Together they pioneered large, brightly-colored ceramic
animals, and in the mid 90's their work shifted to bronze sculpture with
lively innovative patinas. Now, their work ranges from miniature
animals to monumental bronzes like the fifteen-foot tall bear at Baylor
University Law School. The art world has lost one of its creative
innovators, but his family and friends will miss his humor, great sense
of adventure, passion for nature and his soul. Gene is survived by his
wife of 20 years Rebecca, his children Chris Tobey and wife Angela, Jami
Kiendra and husband Mitch, Josh Tobey and girl-friend Josephine
Franklin, and his step-daughters Jessica Sequera and husband Hector, and
Elizabeth Olmsted and boyfriend Arturo Contreras. He is also survived
by his mother Annabella Tobey, his sister Tami Tobey, his brothers Gary
Tobey and wife Karen, and Jerry Tobey and wife Susan, along with five
grandchildren Christian, Eric, Kayla, Tobey and Delaney. A time of
celebration of Gene's life will be held Sunday January 8, 2006 starting
at 1:30pm at the family residence located at 37 Droege Rd., Santa Fe,
New Mexico 87508. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be
made to The Gene Tobey Memorial Art Scholarship Fund in care of Mason
National Bank, PO Box 1789, Mason, Texas, 76856.
French Mortuary
1111 University Blvd. NE
843-6333
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