If you knew Gene Atkins, then you knew that grin. The one accompanied by a twinkle in his eye that told you he was up to some kind of mischief. He was a kidder, a rascal who liked to tease, even aggravate, in the most loving of ways.

In his early years, he liked to be the life of the party. In his later years, he just wanted to party to quiet down. But he always knew exactly when he was ready to leave the party and he seldom tarried.

It was the same with his life. After the ravages of dementia took its toll physically and mentally, on December 13, 2013, he left this world, waiting long enough to let his children, grandchildren and wife gather around him. Then he quietly slipped away from his own going away party.

In the 81 years prior, he made sure to leave his mark. Born in Cedartown, Georgia on August 2, 1922, he was the youngest of Jessie Mae and Lonnie Atkins' six children. He grew up on a farm there and lived there with his mother long after his father passed.

After graduating from Cedartown High School, he served his country as a Nike Missile tech in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. Afterwards he returned to nearby Rome, Georgia and attended Coosa Valley Technical Institute and became an electrician. Then in 1955 he began his 47 year paper mill career. It started at Georgia Kraft in Rome and continued at Alabama Kraft when that mill opened in 1966. Like many from Rome, he moved his family to Eufaula, Alabama. He worked there through decades of ownership and name changes and retired from Mead Westvaco in 2001.

While at the paper mill, Atkins was known to seldom turn down a call out or overtime, but even with the long hours he worked he made sure to enjoy life. He loved to play golf and to hunt; not so much to best any others' skills rather more for the camaraderie and friendship. And the man loved to dance. Whether the jitterbug or the twist, music made his feet move. Dancing music, that is. For "listening music," it had to be country, the twangier the better. Old school like Merle, Conway, Hank or Loretta.

Now Gene was no big philanthropist of the traditional sort. But he was a giver. He'd stop to help a stranger broken down on the side of the road. Step up to fix your golf cart in a quick minute. Dress a deer and take the extra meat to someone in need. And more times than even his family probably knew, he'd buy a used car or truck and turn around and sell it for less than he paid to someone who needed more than he did and let them pay for it as they could.

It was common knowledge that the man could fix anything. Even if it wasn't broken, he might take something apart just because he was certain he could make it work better.

He was not a flashy guy. Sure he could opinionated in his "the World According to Gene" way, but he had such heart. He was an affectionate, friendly fellow, whether he'd known you for 15 years or 15 minutes. And, oh, how he loved his family. He was a husband, father and grandfather who was not shy about professing his love. And that is what his family will remember the most. He also loved God and was saved. And that is what comforts his family the most.

Gene is survived by his wife, Karen of Eufaula; his daughter Charlotte Atkins of Rome, GA; his son Tony, daughter-in-law Traci and grandchildren Lindsey, Claire and Mack of Eufaula; his stepson and his family Chad, Jennifer, Parker and Jackson Crumbly of Wiesbaden, Germany; and his stepson and his family Chris, April and Timmy Crumbly of Orlando; his brother, Herman Atkins of Dallas, GA, and many other family members in Cedartown, Rome and surrounding areas.

Local visitation was Sunday at Chapman's Funeral Home in Eufaula. Then the funeral service was Monday at Gammage and Sons Funeral Home in Cedartown, GA, with burial at Northview Cemetery in Cedartown.

In lieu of flowers, Gene's family suggest either a donation to the Alzheimer's Association, to Parkview Baptist Church or that you find a way to help someone in need this Christmas season in his honor.