Mr. Claude “Gene” Guyant, age 93, formerly of Las Cruces, New Mexico, passed away of natural causes at his home on the morning of August 14, 2026. The son of an American diplomat, Gene was born to the late Claude Earl and Sara M. (Perez) Guyant in Lima, Peru on April 27th, 1933, where he lived most of his youth with his cousins. After beginning high school in Seattle and Los Angeles, Gene returned to Lima to finish high school.

After a brief stint working for Braniff Airways, Gene returned to the U.S. and enlisted in the Army, where he was promoted to the rank of sergeant while serving in Korea. Following his military service, Gene returned to Seattle, where he enrolled as a student at the University of Washington, earning his Bachelor’s degree in history and, most importantly, met Ms. Gage Farris, whom he met at the university Spanish club, became the love of his life. They married on July 12, 1957.

Gene joined the U.S. Border Patrol in 1960 and served a career in the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service. His career took him to Washington D.C., Southern California, and Washington State, culminating with posts at the U.S. Embassies in Montevideo, Uruguay, and Panama City, Panama. Along the way, Gene and Gage had six children. 

Gene retired from government service and moved his family back to the U.S. in 1986. Settling in Las Cruces, NM. Gene became involved in the local community in several aspects, to include serving as bailiff at the Dona Ana County Courthouse, working as Communications/Security Director at Memorial Medical Center, as well as serving time as a local school bus driver, volunteering at the local library and also Safe Haven Animal Shelter thrift store. Gene remained active for many years with the National Association of Former Border Patrol Officers, to which he also volunteered much of his time in retirement. 

Gene and Gage moved to Newark, OH in 2025. Gene is preceded in death by his oldest daughter, Valerie, who passed away in 1963.

He is survived by his wife Gage, their five children, Glenn (Maria), Maurice (Lisa), Bruce (Julie), Terry (Wendy), and Elise (Kelly); grandchildren, Andrew, Aubrey, Alexander, Paolo, Austin, Madeline, Valerie, Aric, Allison, Wyatt, and Emily, and fourteen great grandchildren.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Monday, August 24, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. at Criss Wagner Hoskinson Funeral Home, 179 Granville Street, Newark. Visitation will be held two hours prior to the funeral service, from 12:00 to 2:00 p.m. on Monday. Burial will follow in Evans Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in memory of Gene to the animal rescue of your choice.