Carl “Gene” Shafer, Jr., 55, of Orange, Texas, passed away on July 31, 2017, in Beaumont, Texas.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m., Friday, August 4, 2017, at Claybar Funeral Home in Orange, Texas. Officiating will be Pastor Nicholas Colbert, of Hickory Grove Baptist Church in Wiergate, Texas.

Visitation will be from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., Thursday, at Claybar Funeral Home in Orange.

Born in Washington, Indiana on September 15, 1961, Gene was the son of Carl Eugene Shafer and Mary Ann (Cox) Zerko. He was a very talented fisherman and enjoyed cutting grass, was an avid boxer, liked visiting with his friends, and spending time with his kids and grandkids. He loved animals, especially cats. Gene was a man of very few words, but made an impact on everyone he met. He will be greatly missed.

He was preceded in death by his father, Carl Eugene Shafer; nephew, Ricky George, III; and his niece, Lauren Shafer.

Gene is survived by his mother, Mary Ann and husband Ira Lee Zerko; children, Andrea Nichole Daniels and husband Dennis Jr., of Starks, LA, Lacey Shafer, of Starks, LA, Keith Earl Chambles, of South Houston, Shawn Shafer, of Orange, Nicole Hamilton, of Vidor, and Nicklaus Hamilton, of Vidor; grandchildren, Peyton, Austin, and Calvyn; siblings, James Eugene Shafer and wife, Nora, of Bridge City, Margaret George and husband Ricky, of Orange, Walter Shafer, of Sulphur, LA, Sarah McClendon and husband Dean, of Orange, and Rose Shafer, of Vidor; and numerous nieces and nephews including, David Zerko, Diana Zerko, James Allen Shafer, Jennifer Shafer, Chris George, Walter Shafer, Jr., and Bo Shafer.

Serving as pallbearers will be Chris George, James Shafer, Shawn Shafer, David Zerko, Dean McClendon, and Ricky George, II.