Gene Cline

Mr. Everett Eugene Cline, age 75, of Martin died Thursday, April 4, 2019, at his residence.

Funeral arrangements are incomplete at this time.

Mr. Cline is survived by his wife, Anne M. DeLaunay Cline of Martin; two step-sons, Rowan Forrester of New Brighton, MN and James West of Franklin, MA; one granddaughter, Brianna West.

Equally at home in academic and professional opera circle, Eugene Cline brought over 50 years of experience and study to his performances.  In his 25 years of college teaching Mr. Cline served on faculties of Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, University of Idaho in Moscow, Idaho, and the University of Tennessee at Martin.  During his 25 years in New York City as a free lance opera coach/accompanist, he worked with singers who performed at the Metropolitan Opera as well as most major opera houses in the world.  His clientele included the famous baritone Sherrill Milnes and the world-renowned mezzo-soprano Joyce Di Donato.  Mr. Cline had been on the faculty of several summer opera programs and has taught in master classes around the United States as well as in Beijing and Xingdao, China.  He had been conductor and/or music director of his own opera companies in Baton Rouge and New York City and was assistant conductor with New Orleans Opera and Kansas City Lyric.  Mr. Cline held a Master of Arts in Accompanying from the University of Kansas City.

He was preceded by his parents, William Evertt Cline and Betty Elaine McDannell Cline.

The family requests that memorials be sent to the Cline Music Scholarship Fund, c/o Illinois Weslyn University, attention Advancement Office, P O Box 2900, Bloomingrton, IL 61702-2900.