Eugene "Gene" Ludlow Halsey III Defreestville, NY Gene Halsey was called Home by our Lord Friday, June 2nd, 2017. A lifelong resident of Defreestville, Gene graduated from Columbia High School and retired from International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 1249. Keen to the notion that food and fellowship bring people together, Gene founded his signature restaurant, "Gene's Fish Fry" in 1961, a landmark local eatery currently owned and operated by his son Mark. His love for people and staying engaged in the community energized him to serve others whether it was volunteering at the local food pantry, working part time in family businesses or driving a school bus for the East Greenbush School District. Gene didn't allow anyone to be a stranger. He was quick with a "hello", a warm smile for people he would encounter followed by a joke and a chuckle. Gene was always helping others. He never hesitated to be the first one on a ladder, put on work gloves, make repairs, or chauffeur others around. For Gene, these were all labors of love. It wasn't unusual for Gene to go to the local candy store, make his purchases and mail or deliver gifts of chocolate to loved ones for no special occasion other than he just wanted you to know he cared. Gene showered his grandchildren in many ways with his unconditional love and devotion and by the lessons of kindness and strength he taught as a mentor and role model. Gene will be remembered for his faith in God, love of family, and especially his devotion to his wife Kareen. Gene is survived by his beloved wife, Kareen, children Diane (Mike)Allen, Deborah (Mike) Lambert, Eugene (Laura) Halsey IV, Mark (Priscilla) Halsey; stepchildren Darci Edwards (Mike Krey), Doug (Kathy) Edwards Jr., Adam (Shana) Edwards; grandchildren David (Alicia), Luke, Leighann (Jimmy), Christopher (Amy), Elizabeth, Amanda, Alexia, Adrianna, Aidan, Kayla, Dalton, Aiden, Elijah, Bella, Jakob, and Summer; great grandchildren David, Dylan and Hunter. Gene was preceded in death by his parents Anna Platt and Eugene Halsey Jr.` Visitation will be held at the Lyons Funeral Home, 1700 Washington Ave. Rensselaer, NY, on Wednesday June 7, 2017 from 4:00-7:00 PM. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in memory of Gene on Thursday, June 8, 2017, at 9:30 AM., at St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church, 175 Williams Rd. Troy, NY. Burial will occur immediately following the Mass at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Holy Sepulchre Rd, East Greenbush, NY. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church Outreach Ministry.