Maysville, Missouri….Marcus Eugene Newkirk, 91, was born January 20, 1930 to Marcus Joel & Lula Evelyn (West) Newkirk and passed away March 17, 2021.

Gene was united in marriage to Emma Lee (Guess) Hall on November 9, 1956. Together they raised 4 children: William Nathaniel Guess, Robert Lee Guess, Marcia Jean Hopper and Alice Marie McKee.

Gene was a 1947 graduate of Maysville High School. He attended several rural schools in DeKalb County. He worked for several farmers in the area before being drafted in the Army in 1952. He served as a chauffeur in France until 1954.

Upon returning to the states he worked a couple of farm related jobs, but that wasn’t really his cup of tea. In 1956 he began working for the DeKalb County Record-Herald, running the Linotype and the big platen press. He worked there 15 years before opening small job shop of his own in Stewartsville. While working at the newspaper he also drove gas trucks to and from Kansas City at night. About 1970 he went to work at the Buchanan County Farmer in Faucett, MO. Brick Holloway went in partnership with Gene to form Farmer Printing Company. That’s when he bought his fist offset press. He attended classes at Hillyard Vocational Technical School at night to learn how to run the offset press. In 1972 he moved the business back to Maysville. In 1976 it moved into the most recent location on the south side of the square in Maysville.

In 1962 Gene and Emma started “Gene’s Photo Shop” which they ran for 34 years. They photographed numerous people, pets and events over those busy years.

Gene enjoyed delivering home delivered means to the elderly and shut ins

for 4 years. He said, “Some of those people are notes old as I am.”

Gene’s one hobby was horseshoe pitching where he traveled to tournaments all over the state and has amassed numerous trophies. He was instrumental in establishing the local “Happy Hooker Horseshoe Courts” does by the Maysville Water plant. He sponsored a team of pitchers in the Pony Express Horseshoe League. He also participated in the Chillicothe League a few years.

Gene was a member of the First Christian Church of Maysville, the DeKalb County Historical Society and the American Legion.

He is preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Emma; and oldest son, William Nathaniel Guess.

Survivors include: 3 children, Robert Lee (Pat) Guess, Fond-du-lac, WI, Marcia Jean (Harry) Hopper, Oak Grove, MO and Alice Marie (Bruce) McKee, Maysville; daughter-in-law, Jamie Guess, Billings, MO; 9 grandchildren, Jay Guess, Emily Neubauer, Bethany Guell, Eric McKee, Amy Schaeffer, Chris McKee, Katie Ogle, Kenny Hopper, & Sarah Freeman; 14 great-grandchildren; and numerous cousins, family, and friends.

Graveside Services will be 2:00 p.m Sunday, April 25, 2021at Shambaugh-Cope Cemetery, Weatherby, Missouri under direction of Turner Family Funeral Home of Maysville. Memorial Contributions: DeKalb County Historical Society. Online condolences: www.turnerfamilyfuneral.com