EUGENE AGUIRRE, JR., 65, of Berryville, died Sunday, Sept. 16, 2007, at his home.

He was born July 27, 1942, at Lansing, Mich., a son of the late Eugene Aguirre, Sr. and Mary Ortiz.

Eugene served in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War aboard the USS Thomaston (LSD-26). He received an honorable discharge in 1965 after six years of service.

On Dec. 12, 1979, he was united in marriage to Barbara Grady. Eugene was employed as a welder at Kaiser Steel in Ontario, Calif. In 1987, he and his family moved to Carroll County and settled in Berryville.

He attended St. Anne's Catholic Church in Berryville. He was talented and enjoyed doing any "handy man" jobs. Eugene will be remembered for his deep devotion to his wife, children, grandchildren and other family members.

He was preceded in death by his parents and two sisters, Rita Cortez and Emma Guerra.

Survivors include his wife, Barbara, of the home; one son, Eugene Aguirre III of Berry?ville; four daughters, Mary and her husband Steve Whitehead of Fayetteville, Jennifer and her husband Sifreido Mendez of Springdale, Ann and her husband Donald Turner of Bentonville, and Lisa Wagner of Rogers; two brothers, Freddie Aguirre of Berryville, and Bobby Aguirre of Fort Worth, Texas; and one sister, Rosie Garcia of San Antonio, Texas.

Celebration of Life services were to be held at 3 p.m. Friday, Sept. 21, 2007, at Smith Family Funeral Home in Green Forest with Jack Betts officiating. Military honors will be by the American Legion Walker-Wilson Post No. 9.

Online condolences may be left for the family at smithfamilyfuneralhome.net.