Smithville resident and DeKalb County native Msgt. Melvin Eugene “Gene” Gillette, 84, was born Feb. 13, 1929 and after a long illness died unexpectedly April 14.The retired owner/ operator of Gillette Service Center, retired United States Air Force veteran of 20 years of the Korean and Vietnam wars and a member of the Baptist Church, he was the son of the late Charlie L. and Cleo Della Neeley Gillette.In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by one brother, Ralph Gillette; niece, Mildred Lee; and granddaughter, Amber Nicole Tilton.He is survived by one daughter and son-in-law, Gena and Steve Tilton of McMinnville; one son, Greg Lee Gillette; two grandsons, Kaleb and Nicholas Tilton of McMinnville; sister-in-law, Maureen Gillette of Dibrell; special friend, Jo Grace Lowery of Smithville; and many more friends and family survive.He was a member of American Legion Post 173, VFW Post 5064 and the Lions Club. He was a volunteer for many years with the VA Hospital.