On the morning of November 18, 2025, Gene Collier — loving husband, devoted dad, and friend to so many — passed away unexpectedly at the age of 50 due to a catastrophic heart attack.

Gene was the kind of man who made everyone around him feel seen. To his wife Vanesa, he was her rock and the love of her life. To their two beautiful daughters, Brooke and Angelina, he was simply “Dad” — the man who fixed anything that broke, never missed a school event, band recital, or bedtime story. He was already looking ahead to the day he’d walk them down the aisle and be there as they built their own families.

At work, Gene was the heart of the Area Rug Cleaning Facility at Stanley Steemer. For years, he managed the cleaning and care of hundreds of rugs every single week with a pride and precision that customers still mention to this day. His stern laugh echoed through the plant, and he was the first person to lend a hand or teach a new tech the right way to do things. We lost our "Rug Jesus" on Tuesday.

In a single moment, Vanesa lost her partner of many years, and Brooke and Angelina lost the dad who was supposed to be there for every milestone ahead. Right now, the family is facing funeral expenses none of us ever plan for, keeping the household running unexpectedly on one income, and trying to figure out how to give the girls the future Gene always dreamed of for them.

100% of every dollar donated here will go straight to Vanesa to help with:

• Funeral and memorial costs

• Mortgage/rent, household bills, and daily living expenses

If you knew Gene, you know he would be the first one pulling out his wallet or showing up with his truck the second someone needed help. Today his family needs us. Anything you can give — $5, $50, $500, or simply sharing this page — means the world and will directly ease the burden on Vanesa and the girls during the hardest days of their lives.

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you.

With love and gratitude,

The Stanley Steemer family, friends, and everyone whose lives Gene touched