Reagan Herald Durant

Reagan Durant, age 86, of Oakwood, and formerly of Baytown, passed away peacefully Sunday evening, June 23, 2019, at his home in Oakwood. He was preceded in death by both of his parents; beloved wife, Barbara Durant (2013); brothers, Crowell, Lawrence, Elton and Melton Durant and sisters, Virginia Harrell and Faye Stafford. Reagan is survived by children, Niki Lyn Durant Sessions of Houston; Thomas Reagan Durant of Houston; Jay Scott Durant & wife, Tina, of Huffman and Alissa Dawn Durant Blasingame and husband, Clay, of Baytown; brother, Robert Durant and wife, Dean, of Lufkin and sister, Annie Mae Nettles and husband, John, of Ft. Worth. Reagan was a grand daddy to Mathew and Joshua Sessions, Jason, Curtis and Taryl Durant, Lacey Blasingame Proffer and Trent Blasingame and great-grand daddy to eleven perfect angels.

Reagan Herald Durant was born November 27, 1932, near Buffalo, Texas on what was referred to as "the Pea Ridge” by the family where his parents, Benjamin Franklin and Clara Lee (Parsons) Durant, raised nine children. What was missing in material possessions was far outweighed by a home full of love. Reagan shared many stories about his childhood with his children and really anyone who would listen! He told them about his brothers serving in World War II and the radio that was purchased in order to track the progression of the war. He told them about riding into town on Saturday mornings in a mule drawn wagon. He told about sitting on a fence post on a hot summer afternoon and watching Bonnie and Clyde speed past (some of his children believe this story to be a little suspect) and about missing the first two weeks of school each year in order to help his parents bring in the cotton crop. He was drafted into the U.S. Army on April 1953 and served his country as a Corporal in the Infantry Division until April 1955 when he was honorably discharged just missing the opportunity to fight in the Korean Conflict. Reagan worked most of his life as a plant operator for a chemical company in Baytown, Texas. However, his real love was his involvement in the newspaper business. He was a linotype operator and a typesetter for several newspapers including the Buffalo Press and the Baytown Sun. He was the editor and a contributing columnist for the Port Neches Chronicle in the early 60s.

A talented writer and musician, the role that Reagan treasured most was that of husband and father. First and foremost, Reagan was a hardworking family man. In September 1955, he married the love of his life, the very lovely and beautiful Barbara Ann McKague. He believed for all the rest of his life that meeting and marrying Barbara was the luckiest thing that had ever happened to him. Together they raised four children and his love for his wife, his children, his grandchildren and his great-grandchildren was the most important thing in his life. His last words before the angels came to deliver him to his Heavenly Father were an expression of his love for his family. There simply was no finer man or more faithful servant than Reagan Durant.

Funeral services for Reagan will be held 1 P.M., Saturday, June 29, 2019, at Walters Funeral Home in Centerville, Texas. Burial will follow in Liberty Cemetery, north of Centerville.

Arrangements are under the direction of Walters Funeral Home in Centerville, Texas.