Family Honors Man Who Owned Over 100 Ties with Sweet Gesture at His Funeral (Exclusive)

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One man officiated dozens of weddings and wore every tie with purpose - at his funeral, they were worn for himNEED TO KNOW
Lexi Johnson's late grandfather, Papa Gene, was a lover of suits and ties
As a former barber and preacher, he learned from his own father to always look his best
After his death in June 2025, his family came up with a simple but meaningful way to honor the man behind the tiesWhen Lexi Johnson's grandfather died on June 26, 2025, the family knew they had to find a special way to honor the man who had meant so much to them.
The 83-year-old was a preacher of 55 years from Kansas City, Mo., who rarely appeared without a suit and one of his many beloved ties.
At his funeral, a dozen men in the family each wore a tie from his collection of over 100 – a fitting tribute to the man they lovingly called Papa Gene.
'It was emotional to see them all wearing something from him on the day we said goodbye,' Johnson, 29, tells PEOPLE exclusively.
'It was a hard day, but it was special to honor him in that way. I know he would've loved seeing his boys all looking so sharp and carrying on the legacy he left.'
Many of Papa Gene's ties held special meaning for Johnson and her family, tied to milestones throughout their lives.
'My favorite memory of him is probably from my wedding seven years ago,' his granddaughter reveals. 'He officiated our wedding, and that is such a special memory to keep.'
At the funeral, Johnson's husband wore the tie Papa Gene had worn to officiate their wedding, and her cousin wore a Mizzou Tigers tie, the same one her grandfather wore to her graduation from the University of Missouri.
One of his most-worn ties was an American flag design – faded and marked with a barbecue stain from years of use.
Even after the celebration of life, the men all kept Papa Gene's ties as keepsakes to remember him by.
He left behind his wife, two daughters, a son, nine grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren – all of whom he had the joy of knowing, loving, and spending meaningful time with throughout his life.
For 30 years, Papa Gene lived with Parkinson's disease, meeting each day with quiet resilience and still finding ways to show his love despite his limited mobility. As the family story goes, his gentle tremors once rocked Johnson, who was born one year after his diagnosis, to sleep in his arms.
'He showed me what resilience, grit, and showing up for the people in your life truly meant,' Johnson says. 'He struggled with Parkinson's and all the side effects that come with it, but despite that, he was committed to using the life he'd been given to better those around him.'
Even while facing his own health challenges, Papa Gene remained devoted to others by visiting the sick, praying with families, and offering comfort wherever it was needed.
'He lived in small towns in Missouri his entire life, but impacted more people than anyone I've ever known,' Johnson shares. 'I'm incredibly proud to be his granddaughter and to have known him for nearly three decades.'
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It was fitting, then, that at his funeral, visitation went two hours over schedule, with a line out the door of people there to honor him. The guest book alone had over 650 signatures and heartfelt messages.
'My grandpa was the heartbeat of our family,' Johnson tells PEOPLE. 'He wasn't just physically present for us; he was invested in everything we did.'
Read the original article on People