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TOBEY -- Gene Tobey, age 60, of Santa Fe and formerly of Port Aransas and Mason, TX, passed away Wednesday January 4, 2006 at a local hospital following a lengthy illness. He was born May 26, 1945 in Utah to James G. and Annabelle Tobey. Mr. Tobey was a well known southwestern sculptor, known for stylized animal sculptures with his trademark line drawings incised into the surface. Gene began his career as a sculptor/potter and taught sculpture, pottery and three dimensional design at Casper Community College in Wyoming and Linn-Benton Community College in Albany, OR. In 1985, he and Rebecca married and blended their five children into a family. He began collaborating with Rebecca shortly after their marriage, showing in art galleries across the United States. Together they pioneered large, brightly-colored ceramic animals, and in the mid 90s their work shifted to bronze sculptures with lively, innovative patinas. Now, their work ranges from miniature animals to monumental bronzes like the fifteen-foot tall bear at Baylor University Law School. The art world has lost one of its creative innovators, but his family and friends will miss his humor, great sense of adventure, passion for nature, and his soul. Gene is survived by his wife of 20 years, Rebecca; his children, Chris Tobey and wife, Angela, Jami Kiendra and husband, Mitch, Josh Tobey and girl-friend, Josephine Franklin; and his step-daughters, Jessica Sequera and husband, Hector, and Elizabeth Olmsted and boyfriend, Arturo Contreras. He is also survived by his mother, Annabelle Tobey; his sister, Tami Tobey; his brothers, Gary Tobey and wife, Karen, and Jerry Tobey and wife, Susan; along with five grandchildren, Christian, Eric, Kayla, Tobey, and Delaney. A time of celebration of Gene's life will be held Sunday January 8, 2006 starting at 1:30 p.m. at the family residence located at 37 Droege Rd., Santa Fe, NM 87508. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The Gene Tobey Memorial Art Scholarship Fund in care of Mason National Bank, P.O. Box 1789, Mason, Texas, 76856. French Mortuary 1111 University Blvd. NE 843-6333
        Published on: Fri January 06, 2006