A native of Elgin, Oregon, Eugene Fay Hug, Jr. (Gene) was the only child of Eugene Feodor Hug, Sr., (May 5, 1872—July 20, 1950) and Fay Blanche James (July 6, 1886—September 19, 1984).  Gene was raised with a half brother and sister, Orien and Florence, from a previous marriage of Fay James.  Eugene, Sr., adopted Orien and Florence Monroe after his marriage to Fay James Monroe.  Gene, Orien, and Florence remained with Eugene, Sr., after his divorce from Fay and her subsequent marriage to Sam Moore.

On October 14, 1930, at the age of 18, Gene married Opal Beickel (April 10, 1912—April 15, 1997) in a civil ceremony in Walla Walla, Washington.  Opal and Gene gave birth to one child, William Eugene, October 13, 1931. Gene had two grandchildren, Harper Eugene Hug (1966) and Hilary Kay Hug (1968).

During Gene’s childhood and early-married life, Elgin was a self-sustaining village of approximately 900 people in the heart of the Blue Mountains of Northeastern Oregon.  Timber was the primary industry providing an important economic foundation to the community.  Farming, cattle and sheep ranches, and orchards surrounded Elgin.  An array of businesses such as a bakery, dry goods store, grocery, hotel, blacksmith, and five or six saloons plus a doctor, dentist, and lawyer contributed to the independent, self-sustaining nature of the community.  Members of the Hug family were involved in or owned many of these businesses and a substantial amount land in the county (Union).  This environment nurtured the talent and helped develop the many skills that Gene Hug was known to possess.  His occupations included mill-wright (Elgin), machinist (Tacoma, Washington), and saw filer (North Powder and Cascade Locks, Oregon).  Gene retired and moved to Eugene, Oregon (circa. 1977), where he spent the last twenty years of his life.

By the time Gene and Opal were married, Gene had gained the skills to build the first of two family homes in Elgin. The first was built with the help of his father and uncle, Julius Hug, a skilled carpenter.  This house was sold to his half brother Orien and moved to another lot.  The second home replaced the first and was built from basement to roof by Gene—foundations, framing, wiring, plumbing, roofing, and finishing.

The Hugs were an important pioneer family in Elgin.  Gene’s father and uncles were second generation German-Swiss.  They adhered to a strong work ethic and promoted cultural activities within the family and community.  Henry, Gene’s uncle, built a personal library and his father founded the Elk Flat Band.  The Hug Brothers Building, built in 1902, housed most of the Elgin business community—groceries, dry goods, bakery, barber shop, dance hall, doctor’s office, and apartments.

Personally, Gene was a serious person.  During his years in Elgin, Gene was an active member of the Blue Mountain Theosophical Society established in 1892 by his father, uncles, and grandfather.  His collection of Theosophical books were donated to the National Theosophical Society.  Gene played the trumpet, clarinet, and bass.  During his early married life, Gene made extra money by playing with dance bands in Elgin and surrounding communities.  He also played the bass in the Community Symphony Orchestra.  During his high school years, Gene was a member of the Elgin High School Basketball Team.  As a student, he excelled in math and science.  Gene enjoyed fishing and playing cards and chess.  Many winter evenings in Elgin were spent playing pinochle and attending potluck suppers.  Much of his retirement was spent on the Oregon Coast salmon fishing.  Also, Gene and Opal loved to travel. While living in Elgin, Gene built a travel trailer, which he used to take his family on West Coast adventures.  Later he owned a RV, which he and Opal used to tour the United States.

Gene’s last years were difficult.  He suffered with a heart condition and circulatory problems.  He died at a nursing home in Eugene, Oregon.  Gene and Opal’s ashes were scattered in the Blue Mountains of Northeastern Oregon (June, 2000).
 

Born in Perry, Oregon, Opal Beickel Hug was the youngest of eight children of Emma Goodwin Beickel (November 4, 1874—November 8, 1953) and George Beickel (October 25, 1871—July 30, 1969). Perry was a tiny lumber and railroading community near LaGrande in the Blue Mountains of Northeastern Oregon. On October 14, 1930, at the age of 18, Opal Beickel married Eugene F. Hug Jr. (April 10, 1912—April 15, 1997) in a civil ceremony in Walla Walla, Washington.  Opal and Eugene (Gene) gave birth to one child, William Eugene October 13, 1931. She had two grandchildren, Harper Eugene Hug (1966) and Hilary Kay Hug (1968).

The Beickels were a large LaGrande family.  Opal’s father and brothers—John, Beener, and William—all worked out of LaGrande on the Union Pacific Railroad.  The eldest brother, Ernest, lived and worked in Portland, Oregon. . As was the custom during these years, Opal and her three sisters, Maggie, Elda, and Dora, were mothers and housewives.  Opal and William, the youngest of the eight children, were the first high school graduates in the family (LaGrande High School).

Personally, Opal was open and gregarious quickly making friends and developing loyalties.  She enjoyed bridge, fishing, cooking, and fancywork.  Opal was an avid bridge player belonging to groups in Oregon and Georgia.  Opal and Gene spent much of their retirement fishing for salmon on the Oregon coast.  Also, they owned a small boat which they used for trout fishing on the many lakes in Oregon.  Opal’s friends considered her potato salad and angel food cake the best.  Opal’s estate had hundreds of examples of her embroidery, crochet, and other forms of handcrafts.

During her formative years, Opal lived in several communities close to LaGrande.  Her father held various railroad jobs in Perry, LaGrande, Palmer Junction, and Elgin. She met her husband while living with her parents in Elgin; Opal and Gene made their home there for the first thirty years of their married life with one exception.  After WWII, Opal, Gene, and their son moved from Elgin to Tacoma, Washington, for a year (1944-1945) and then returned to the family home in Elgin.  In the 1950’s Elgin’s lumbering industry began to decline.  For better work, Opal and Gene moved to North Powder and then Cascade Locks, Oregon.  They retired in Eugene, Oregon, where Opal and Gene spent the last years of their married life.  They celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary at a large gathering of family and friends in Eugene on October 14, 1980.  After the death of her husband in 1997, Opal moved to her son’s home in Athens, Georgia.  Opal died December 10, 1999, with her son and daughter-in-law (Kathryn H.) by her side at the Athens Regional Hospital in Athens, Georgia.  Opal and Eugene’s ashes were scattered in the Blue Mountains of Northeastern Oregon (June, 2000).