David Reece Hudgens

DAVID REECE HUDGENS was born on October 18, 1918, in the small, north central, Texas town of Winters. The eldest of four children born to Herschel and Mabel Wilcox Hudgens, Reece grew up working on his parents' dairy farm in Handley, TX. He attended schools in Handley and Lancaster and was an attentive big brother to his siblings all of their lives. After his parents sold the dairy in 1939, Reece and his sisters helped operate their new business, the Southland Roller Rink, in Donna, TX. He began his carpenter career, working along with his father, building Army barracks all over the State of Texas during World War II. In the mid-1940's, Reece moved to Houston and began work with the Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company in the Maintenance Department. He was in charge of building and repairing anything and everything while working there. As Supervisor for Ten Ten Travis Corporation, in December 1964, Reece was recognized by Tennessee Gas for designing a safety device relating to the operation of a grinder switch. During his employment he was an avid safety booster, with a practical approach, providing his company with numerous years of effective and productive leadership, until his retirement in 1971. A devoted Christian, Reece joined the Berachah Church in 1955, and continued to be a faithful member there. After retiring from Tenneco, Inc. in October 1971, Reece went to work for the church as Head of Maintenance. He repaired, rebuilt, and refinished everything in sight before deciding to lead a more leisurely life and retired from the church in 1998. Married twice, briefly, Reece lived the majority of his life in a studio apartment in the shadows of downtown Houston on Waugh Drive. He also resided for a short time in The Heights with his aunt and uncle, Haak and Lillian Wilcox Hudgens. A desire to move to the country, and live close to his sisters and brother, he purchased property outside of Pattison, TX in April, 1998. While building the living quarters in his workshop, he stayed with his sister, Dorothy, in Brookshire. Reece spent the past twelve years enjoying the serenity and solitude of his country home. 'Doc', the nick-name his brother-in-law, Emory, gave him, was a jack-of-all-trades and master of more than one. A perfectionist, he spent many, many hours making beautiful items, from jewelry to furniture and fashioned from all types of wood. A Master Carpenter and Locksmith, Reece came from a long line of Hudgens craftsmen hailing to America from Whales in the mid-1700's. The name Hudgens (Hudgins) means, Lord of the Far Seas' and many of his ancestors were also carpenters and shipbuilders. An intelligent and independent man with a stubborn soul, Reece possessed a quick wit, infectious smile and a twinkle in his eye. He was a member of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters & Joiners of America Local 551 and a lifetime member of the Texas State Rifle Assn. Reece enjoyed the outdoors and loved to shoot, both pistols and rifles. He loaded his own ammunition and did the same for many of his family and friends. Doc looked forward to spending time deer hunting, especially with his family members. He loved animals, and even at a very young age, always had a terrier dog by his side. He inherited the training trait' from his mother and was able to teach even the most difficult dog, voice and hand-signal commands. Reece passed peacefully through the gates of Heaven on Monday, December 31st, 2012, at the Briarwood Nursing Home in Bellville, TX, where he resided for just a few short weeks. He is survived by his BROTHER-IN-LAW: Emory Wilpitz of Sealy; SPECIAL NIECE & DEVOTED CARE-GIVER: Alison Jacobson-Patton and her husband, Don, of Bellville; NIECES: Tina Brunkenhoefer and her husband, Bubba, of Sealy, and Debbie Mannion and her husband, Frank, of Katy; NEPHEWS: Paul Reece Tanner and his wife, Genver, of Rancho Viejo, TX and Donald Hudgens of Houston; EIGHT GREAT NIECES, FOUR GREAT GREAT NIECES and ONE GREAT GREAT NEPHEW; as well as numerous other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Maggie Wilpitz and Dorothy Jacobson; brother and sister-in-law, Don and Eva Hudgens; nieces, Karen and Terry Jacobson; ex-wives, Bernice and Helen; and special friend, Patricia (Pat) Navles.