Buddy Reneau

Funeral services for Buddy Reneau, 80, of Garrison were held at 10:30am on Tuesday, July 9, 2024 at Holly Springs Baptist Church with Clint Williams and Bobby Smith officiating. Interment followed at Holly Springs Cemetery.

Mr. Reneau passed away on Thursday, July 4, 2024 in Garrison.

On Thursday, June 15, 1944, William L. & Thena Barbara Shoemake Reneau gave birth to their last child, a baby boy who they named Walter Floyd Reneau. Little did they know he would never go by his birth name but would be called "Buddy". During his early years he was very active in every sport available in school back in the early 60's, including football, track, and basketball. His mile relay team won state, but his favorite sport was football, where he played quarterback for 4 years and was named Texas High School All-Star. He and one of his teammates, upperclassman Tutts Stoddard would later return to football together and spend years in the pressbox as Buddy announced for the Garrison Bulldogs and Tutts ran the clock.

He married his high school sweetheart, Madge Marie Shipp, on March 28, 1964. Two years later, they would begin their little family and add a daughter, Gina, then five years later a son, Bart. Shortly after Gina was born, they moved "home" from Houston to Garrison where he started a career in roofing, that he continued until he retired. Buddy and Marie were married for 60 years, raised their children, became Memi and PawPaw, and great-grandparents together. His family was his proudest achievement, and he spent as much time as he could with them. He enjoyed hunting and fishing with Bart, listening to Gospel hymns with Gina and he and Memi watched hundreds of their grandchildrens' games, meets, recitals, and events.

When not attending church, family activities, or sports events, Buddy & Marie enjoyed traveling the world with their dear friends, Don & Kathy Boyett.

Through his lifetime, his faith in Jesus and his passion for sharing the Gospel was strong. He led youth and was a Sunday school director and teacher at First Baptist Church in Garrison, assisted Bro. Gerald Edwards area missionary, in new ministries, and founded Holly Springs Baptist Church in December 2002 with 68 people in attendance on the first Sunday. He loved the Word of God and would study it daily for hours for as long as he could. If you met him, you heard about Jesus and were likely invited to church. He knew the importance of having a relationship with Jesus and lived his life trying his best to share that Truth at every opportunity.

In his last 15 years of life, Alzheimer's became part of the story. He was officially diagnosed 7.5 years ago, but those closest to him knew long before the doctors confirmed. His family and friends watched their husband, Dad, PawPaw, and friend lose pieces of himself little at a time. His family is so thankful that the Lord specially placed his caregiver, Mary Garcia, in their lives during his final year. She was an enormous blessing, not only for her experience and skill, but her compassion, patience, faith, and love that she showed Buddy in his darkest times. She served and ministered to his entire family as they navigated a path that they had never walked before. Although she came into the family toward the end, no amount of earthly gratitude is deserving enough for the role she and her husband Jorge and their family played in the lives of the Reneau family. It was a very difficult journey over such an extended period of time, but in the end, he achieved ultimate restoration over that horrible disease in Christ Jesus!

He is survived by his wife; daughter Gina Bradshaw and husband Mike: son Bart Reneau and wife Cheri; grandchildren Sydni Dees and husband Chris, Kord Bradshaw and wife Colleen, Cadie DeBorde and husband Chance, Chloe Reneau, and Chaleigh Reneau; great-grandchildren Luke and Jay Dees, Ryland Bradshaw, and Waylon DeBorde. He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers Jack, J.W., Billy, and Robbie "Duck" Reneau; sisters Margie Gray, Colleen Parks, and Jeanette Stokes.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Buddy's memory to Holly Springs Baptist Church (Building Fund) at 16928 N US Highway 59, Garrison, Texas 75946 or to Holly Springs Cemetery at 727 CR 1571 Garrison, Texas 75946.