Obituary of Dr. Gene H. Leroux

Dr. Gene Hoover Leroux, 88, of Doniphan, Missouri, departed this life Saturday, March 25, 2017, at his residence. Dr. Leroux, often referred to as “Doc”, was born August 16, 1928, in Ripley County, Missouri, to the late Arthur and Mary (Crook) Leroux. He attended pre-med at Arkansas State University at Jonesboro and entered medical school in 1956 at the University of Missouri-Columbia where he received his medical degree in June, 1960. After a year of internship in Utah, he opened his first practice in Ellington in 1961. In 1962 he made his permanent office in Doniphan. Dr. Leroux was one of the last of a “dying breed”, a country doctor who often made house calls when a patient was too ill to come to him. Senior patients would frequently remark that they could see him coming in his "little white Volkswagen, children in tow". Dr. Leroux consistently put the needs of others above himself and his family because of his allegiance to the Hippocratic oath. It was not uncommon after a long day at the office to meet someone there later in the evening because of an unforeseen emergency or unexpected illness. And, for many years he was chief of staff at the Ripley County Memorial Hospital, spending countless hours there tending to patients, delivering over 1600 babies and performing numerous surgeries. It would be appropriate to say Dr. Leroux had treated the majority of the families in the Ripley County community prior to his retirement. As a result, people had a deep trust and respect for him because of his superior care and concern. Several in the community remembered a frequent phrase, “Well, looks like we’re gonna have to shoot ya” and would send the nurse in the room, needle in hand. He served as director of the Ripley County Memorial Hospital for several years, was medical director of the Ripley County Health Center for 45 years and was a member of the American Medical Association and the Elm Grove General Baptist Church in Naylor, Missouri. In 2011 Dr. Leroux was bestowed the Family Physician of the Year Award by the Missouri Academy of Family Physicians for his leadership, civic involvement, social commitment and exemplary patient care. Dr. Leroux was very proud to have served his country in the U. S. Army during the Korea War and was a charter member of the Doniphan V.F.W. Post #3485. He was married to Louise B. McGonigal and she departed this life in May, 1982. He later married Mary Peel and she survives. Also surviving are 3 children: Freddie (and Roxanne) Leroux and Ramona Pierce, both of Doniphan and Steve (and Jackie) Leroux of Naylor; 1 step-son, Jim Ed Merrick of Gulf Shores, Alabama; 3 grandchildren, Tim Pierce, Kerri Hamm and April Barnett; 5 step-grandchildren; 3 great-grandchildren, Ryan D. Barnett, Jr., Victoria Barnett and Maddison Hamm; and 12 step-grandchildren. He was also preceded in death by 1 son, Mike Leroux; 1 step-son, Mike Merrick; 3 sisters, Jane Diekemper, Wilma Stevens and Alta Knowlton; and 3 brothers, James Leroux, Garold Leroux and Harvey “Austin” Leroux. Visitation will be held Thursday evening, March 30, 2017, from 5 – 8 p.m. at the First Church of God in Doniphan. The funeral service will take place Friday morning, March 31, 2017, at 10:00 a.m. in the church chapel with Brothers Hubert Payne and Dennis Bell officiating. Burial will follow in the Oak Grove Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Doniphan V.F.W. Post #3485.