Richard Magee

Our dear brother and uncle, Richard DeWitt Magee, passed from this world on Sunday, May 8, 2016, in Houston, Texas. Richard “Dick” was born on April 24, 1934, to Allyne Gallagher and John Atlee Magee, Sr. in Calallen, Texas. He was the younger brother to Sally Magee Reynolds and John Atlee “Buddy” Magee, Jr. Dick was preceded in death by his parents, brother and brother-in-law, Robert McBryde Reynolds. He is survived by his sisters, Sally Magee Reynolds and Mollie Dolan Carter (Andy), as well as nieces and nephews Margaret Henrikson (Jim), Chris Reynolds (George Ann), Janie Mason (Todd), Atlee Carter, Caton Carter and Sarah Carter Aswell (Mitchell); their children John Henrikson, Elizabeth Henrikson (and her fiancé Joshua Blount), Emily Henrikson, Hannah Reynolds, Micah Reynolds, Richard Mason, Laura Mason, Robert Mason, Ethan Carter, Ella Carter, Mollie Ellen Aswell and Elliott Aswell, all of whom loved him dearly. Dick was born and lived his entire life on the same land his great-grandfather, Jacob A.A. Magee, had acquired in 1873 in the Calallen area of Corpus Christi. He attended Calallen schools and graduated in the class of 1951. He earned a BBA from Texas A&I University in Kingsville, TX in 1956 before beginning a career in banking. In 1969, he was appointed Nueces County Tax Assessor-Collector after the sudden death of the incumbent. He held that office until 1989 and later joined his sister, Sally Reynolds, in the operation of Sally & Co. Bakery, where he made so many friends in the Calallen area. The Magee family was one of the first Catholic families in the Calallen area. Dick grew up attending St. John Church in Robstown and St. Anthony in Violet before joining the St. Mary Mission and later St. Peter, Prince of the Apostles Church in Annaville. For many years, he was the weekly lector at St. Mary's and enjoyed the many friends he had in that community. In later years, he attended St. Peter's where he and his sister Sally were regulars at the Saturday evening Mass and monthly bingo games, and was a member of the finance and parish councils. When he was able, he attended daily Mass and prayed the rosary each morning. Richard Magee was a quiet, unassuming man who never talked about his spiritual life, but merely lived his faith every day. We all knew his vocation on Earth was to take care of our family, and he did a wonderful job reveling in our successes, comforting us in our sorrows and providing us all with a role model of how a godly man lived his life. Our family, and many of the lucky ones added to his prayer list, went to bed each night knowing that he had prayed for us that day. Thanksgiving dinner will never be the same for us without his cornbread dressing, devil's food cake and candied yams. Visitation will start Tuesday evening, May 10th, at 5 p.m. at Sawyer-George Funeral Home. A Rosary will follow at 7 p.m. The funeral Mass will be held Wednesday, May 11, at St. Peter, Prince of the Apostles Catholic Church (3901 Violet Road) at 2 p.m. with burial to follow at Rose Hill Memorial Park. Pallbearers will be Atlee Carter, Caton Carter, John Henrikson, Micah Reynolds, Richard Mason and Robert Mason. Those wishing to make a memorial contribution in his honor may consider a donation to either St. Mary's Mission (c/o St. Peter, Prince of the Apostles Church) or St. Peter, Prince of the Apostles Church, 3901 Violet Road, Corpus Christi, TX 78410.