Funeral services for Reese Parker Andrews, 62, will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, March 6, 2013, at First Baptist Church in Nacogdoches with Pastor Randy Booth of Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church officiating. Interment will follow at Fairview Cemetery, Nacogdoches, TX.
Reese passed away on Saturday, March 2, 2013, in Nacogdoches from complications associated with pancreatic cancer. In the words of almost everyone who knew Reese’s exuberance for life, “He sure crammed a lot into every day, all 62 years of his life.” Born Dec. 8, 1950, in Fort Worth, Texas, he was the son of U.S. Army Ret. Colonel Robert Parker Andrews and Selma Louise Andrews.
He spent his boyhood years traveling with his family, finally settling in Weatherford the spring of Reese’s sixth grade year. Throughout the remainder of his school years, he excelled in track, football and public speaking while developing his love and talent for playing the piano and the guitar. He graduated from Weatherford High School in 1969. He then attended Texas A&M University, where he was a proud member of the Fightin’ Texas Aggie Corps of Cadets and graduated with high honors in May 1973 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in German. He returned to Texas A&M to earn his master’s degree in English in December 1976.
Meanwhile, not content to remain still for very long, Reese was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army Reserve in 1975, stationed at various army bases including Fort Riley, Fort Sill, Fort Hood and Fort Bragg, where he was attached to the 82nd Airborne Division. Reese served in a variety of capacities during his service in the Reserve, oftentimes spending summers abroad in Europe. Perhaps his favorite assignments were the summers he spent in southern Germany, serving as a translator for the brigade commander of the First Infantry Division.
He eventually attended “jump school” and earned his wings at Fort Benning in October 1982. Upon receiving a substantial scholarship, Reese returned to school in Texas, graduating from Baylor Law School in May 1982. He began practicing law that fall and soon married the love of his life, Carolyn Louise Pennebaker, in June 1983. Carolyn earned her law degree at Baylor soon after, and in September 1992, the two of them moved to Nacogdoches, where they opened their own law firm, Andrews & Andrews.
Carolyn stopped practicing with Reese when their first child, Parker, was born. A lover of music, Reese loved the great hymns of the Christian faith and was often heard singing them along the sidewalks of downtown Nacogdoches as he walked from his office to the courthouse or the bank. He and his family were members of Grace Bible Church, where Reese served as a Sunday school teacher for the college class and the fifth and sixth grade combined class. They have been active members of Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church since August 2005.
Reese was a devoted son, a beloved husband, a faithful father and a friend to many. He is survived by his mother, Louise Andrews; his best friend and wife Carolyn; his sons, Parker and Payton; and his daughter, Annaleigh; his sisters, Bekki Andrews and Gini Andrews Chesney; his mother-in-law, Joan Pennebaker; his brother-in-law, Doug Pennebaker and wife Karrie; and nieces and nephews including Sara Clark, and Stephen, Rebecca and Hannah Chesney. He was preceded in death by his father, Col. Robert Parker Andrews.
The Andrews family is thankful for the many wonderful physicians, their staffs and the nurses who have provided excellent care and loving support for the last 20 months of Reese’s life, especially Dr. Gene Cagle, Dr. Rohan Jeyharajah, Dr. Gerard Ventura, Dr. Cengiz Satir and Tanyss Winston.
Reese will be remembered as a man who had a true passion for life, one who never knew a stranger and was never a respecter of persons. He was quick to forgive others and hoped others would quickly forgive him. He loved to travel and enjoyed every opportunity to sharpen his Spanish and German speaking skills. He was devoted to his family, and he loved the Bible and could quote dozens of passages from memory. He worked hard and played hard with his children. Reese was generous and friendly to all.
Pallbearers will be Mr. James Ward, Mr. Mike Liebrum, Mr. Michael Kunk, Mr. Fred Neale, Mr. John Fleming, Mr. Lee Hill, Dr. David Brian and Pastor Ricardo Coss.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial contributions be made to the Fine Arts Fund supporting music, art and drama education at Regents Academy, 200 NE Stallings Dr., Nacogdoches, Texas 75961.
Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 5, at Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church, 340 NE Stallings Dr., Nacogdoches.
Condolences may be offered at www.casonmonk-metcalf.com.
Arrangements are under the care and direction of Cason Monk-Metcalf Funeral Directors 5400 North St. Nacogdoches, Texas.
