Ricky Gene Eakes

Ricky Gene “Ricky-Gene” Eakes, 68, passed away on Friday, January 11, 2025, at his Fort Walton Beach home, peacefully. 

He was born July 30, 1956, in Philadelphia, Mississippi, to Billy-Gene and Fanny-Inez Eakes. Ricky-Gene played football at Fort Walton Beach High School and graduated in 1974. 

Ricky was an avid angler and hunter, loved collecting “Clocks and Glocks,” and was mostly at home watching his children and grandchildren succeed in sports, education, and parenthood. He was the butcher at various grocery stores for well over forty years, including Delchamps, Bruno’s, Food World, and Piggly-Wiggly. He had an effortless sense of humor and could make you laugh with one of his many catchphrases, “Crook your finger at her!”.

He was survived by four daughters, Tina Yee (Andre Yee), Tori Eakes, Tonya Leber (Mike Leber), Taryn Hotchkiss (Thomas Hotchkiss), and son, Chad Dugas; eight grandchildren, Trystan, Trey, and Trent Eakes, Kade, Kole, Kruz, and Kali Hotchkiss, and Preston Leber; and one great granddaughter, Gracyn Newberry; some of his best friends, Mike Mccullough, Nicky Harvell, Steve Anderson, and Kevin Carmichael; and many, more friends in the community. Ricky-Gene was preceded in death by his parents, Billy-Gene and Fanny-Inez Eakes; his siblings, Jim Eakes, Patricia-Darlene Arnold, and Randy-Dean Eakes; and his brother-in-law, Johnny Arnold. 

A Celebration of Life will be held on Thursday, January 16, 2025 at 10:00 a.m., at Davis-Watkins Funeral Home. A reception will take place afterwards at the funeral home. His officiant will be Edward Leber. 

The family of Ricky-Gene would like to thank all the friends that have reached out. To share memories, express condolences and sign the guestbook please visit, www.daviswatkins.com.