Ott, Eugene Earl, AMC

After retirement, Earl moved his family to a 400-acre farm on the Arkansas River at Toad Suck, just west of Conway, Arkansas. He went to work on the construction of the Toad Suck Lock and Dam. After completion, the Army Corps of Engineers hired him on as the facility's repairman. He worked for the Corps for 10 years. He raised catfish and cattle on his farm, and had a love of all types of heavy machinery, such as bulldozers and cranes. It was not unusual for him to make an impulse buy, spending several thousands of dollars on a piece of equipment, only to leave it untouched for months or years at a time! He enjoyed fishing on the Arkansas River and handmade his own fishing nets as taught in his youth by the "River Rats" he knew growing up. He often piloted his own houseboat up and down the river near Toad Suck, accompanied by wife Joan. Most mornings he would go out on a walk down the main gravel road on the farm, ending at the top of a bluff overlooking the river. Later in life, he took up membership in the Gideons to spread the Gospel and stay busy. He enjoyed visits with his daughter Diane, son-in-law Terrell, grandsons Chris and Greg, and most of all with the youngest, granddaughter Nell. He even bought a llama to keep on the farm and called it Nell's llama as a way to entice her to visit more often! On May 2, 2000, he set out on the farm to check on things, but did not return when expected. He was found to have peacefully passed away near one of his favorite spots, a pond where he would sit and watch duck and geese. AMC Eugene Earl Ott led a full life of service to God, family, and his country.