Gene Metarie
| Gene Metarie | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Sex | M |
| Birth name | Gene Metarie |
| Spouse | Lex Metarie |
Gene "Shovelhead" Metarie is a frequently seen character in the Spearfish Lake universe. He is a biker, Physician, and violin player. When in scrubs, he is "Dr. Metarie", but when riding his motorcycle he is Shovelhead (named after the primary distinguishing characteristic of a particular vintage Harley Davidson motorcycle engine). He is married to Lex, a talented artist with her own gallery.
Gene is a large burly man, with a full beard, and a long brown ponytail. He is described as a big, bearded guy in biker leathers and a Harley-Davidson do-rag.BB1 He is also "going bald, with a full red beard".FtS28
Medical Practice
Gene took over Dr. Brege's practice sometime between 1987BAR16 and 2001SQ23.
Later on, he has a professional relationship with the only other doctor in town, Dr. Luce, and as Dr. Luce gets older, Gene already has more business than he wants. He is active in the project that recruits Dr. Tricia York as a replacement for Dr. Luce, who really wants to retire to Florida. All of this is covered in the first part of Hiding Patty.
As Cody Archer explained, "Dr. Metarie may be all right, but he’s got the dumbest reading material in the world in his office. I can never find anything but Highlights for Children."SK18
Gene diagnoses the problem causing Myleigh's snoring in Dawnwalker and is mentioned in Blue Beauty.BB36 In the story Facing the Storm, he is the physician to both Candice Archer and her family when they move to Spearfish Lake. He informs Jennifer Evachevski that she is pregnant and then delivers her first child Jeremy in an unintended home birth. Despite, or in addition to, their professional relationship he is good friends with Jennifer, Blake and Myleigh. His presence as a doctor prevents an unwelcome scene with Trey's sister's uninvited appearance at Trey Hartwell's wedding.PE26
Music
Gene is an excellent violinist, and plays both guitar and violin with Jenny Easton's Boreal String Band. His credits include At Home With Jenny Easton -- Songs I Play With Friends, the follow-up Back Porch with Jenny Easton and the live Saturday Night with Jenny Easton.
