Mr. W. Rogerl Reeves of Andalusia went to be with his Lord and Savior on May 9, 2021. He was 86.
Funeral services will be held 2 p.m., Wednesday, May 12, 2021 at First Baptist Church of Andalusia. The family will receive friends at the church from 12 noon until time of services. Dr. Kevin Wilburn will officiate. Special music will be provided by Don Lingle. Serving as pallbearers will be Shep Lucas, Dale Lucas, John Thomas, Luke Thomas, Marshall Walker, Jay Reeves, Seth Watson, and Mike Reeves. Honorary pallbearers, Hunter Butts, Cameron Roos, Justin Roos, Adam Sowell, Christian King, and Shane Reeves. Interment will follow in the Andalusia Memorial Cemetery with Keahey Funeral Home directing.
Left to cherish his memory, loving wife of 37 years, Elaine Reeves; sons, Ricky Reeves (Dawn) and Johnny King, all of Andalusia; daughter, Margo Watson of Coca Beach, Florida; brother, Joseph Carl Reeves (Yvonne) of Irving, Texas; sisters, JoAnn Northcutt of Vestavia Hills, Al; Elaine Lucas of McKenzie; grandchildren, Camaro King, (Justin Roos), Christian King, Clay Watson, Seth Watson (Kate) and Andrew Watson (Nabila); great grandchildren, Hunter Butts, Cameron Roos, Kayla Yates (Joey), Beth Mitchell, Lucas Watson, Kylee Anderson, Gracie Anderson.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Harold Reeves and Olene Peavy Reeves; brothers, Lister Hill Reeves, T.L. Reeves and Jerry Reeves.
Rogerl attended Pleasant Home School, until one day he and his brother threw down their cotton hoes and announced they were finished with farm life! Shortly thereafter, Rogerl’s brother joined the Army and Rogerl, at age 15 joined the Marines. Rogerl completed his high school diploma through the Marines program.
Rogerl served four years in the Marines and received awards for excellence in Sharp Shooting. When reminiscing about his Marines days, Rogerl was fast to flex his biceps and reveal his Marine tattoo to any possibly skeptical conversationalist. He also delighted in proclaiming he could “kill a man with his bare hands!”.
Rogerl’s personality equipped him well for commercial sales. Early in his career, he was an insurance salesman and later spent years in the lighting accessory business, most Andalusian’s remember Rogerl as the local salesman for Delta Lighting.
Rogerl was a member of the First Baptist Church of Andalusia for more than 50 years, there he served on the Benevolence Committee and for many years, the Church Training Records Secretary.
During his years of sales for bulbs and lighting accessories, he often “bragged” that Bear Bryant was one of his clients and during those meetings, Rogerl taught Bear Bryant all he knew about coaching football!
Alabama football was one of Rogerl’s greatest passions. He talked Alabama football to anyone with an ear to lend or even those who may not have! For years, he volunteered with the Andalusia Youth Sports as a coach, referee and umpire. At one time, Rogerl along with Jamie Williams, Casey Jones and Jim Walker had a sports program on WAAO called “Rogerl’s Picks”.
He was known for a big garden every year but had downsized to a smaller one. He said the garden belonged to “him and God” and that’s where they did a lot of talking. He loved hanging out at the Farmer’s Coop and one of his greatest disappointment was when due to the pandemic the Farmer’s Coop had to restrict public traffic. He had lots of friends there, one favorite of his was, “Marshall”. Rogerl had a beautiful singing voice, he sang many church specials with Don Lingle, as well for the Sunday school classes and was a visiting vocalist to many area churches. Rogerl will certainly be remembered as a strong and unique personality and a great encourager to young people, but folks of all ages were made to smile as Rogerl engaged in all his lighthearted and flamboyant conversations. He will be greatly missed.