Palestine High School Alumni Association

01 / 01 / 1937  –  01 / 28 / 2010

James Reginald Hassell, 73, of Woodville, Texas, passed away Jan. 28, 2010, at Christus St. Elizabeth Hospital in Beaumont, Texas, after a two-year battle with cancer. Reginald was born January 1, 1937, in Teague, Texas, to James Fletcher Hassell and Mattie Gertrude Ward. After graduating from Palestine High School in 1954, he served in the United States Army in Korea. Upon return, he married Betty Ellen Naehritz on Oct. 18, 1957.

For eight years, he worked for the Palestine Fire Department, serving three years as the assistant fire chief. The family then moved to Beaumont, Texas, where he was fire chief at Bethlehem Steel for 22 years. After the closure of Bethlehem Steel, he and Betty moved to Woodville, Texas, where he worked 10 years for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.

Friends and family can attest to his love for conversation; everyone enjoyed his wild stories of boyhood with his brothers growing up in East Texas.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and brother, Royce Trice Hassell

Mr. Hassell is survived by his wife of 52 years, Betty; daughter, Regina Taylor and her husband John; son, James Hassell Jr.; grandchildren, Stephanie Parks and Thomas “Buddy” Hassell; brothers, Jarvis Hassell and his wife Martha and Heath Hassell and his wife Tammy; and numerous nieces and nephews.

A graveside service will be at 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 6, 2010, at Roselawn Cemetery in Palestine, Texas. Honorary pallbearers will be Danny and Linda Broyles, Troy Burns, Vernon Hamby, John Taylor, Carl Naehritz Jr., Joseph Paige and John Huerta.

The family would like to thank Dr. Schachner, the Texas Oncology nursing staff, and the St. Elizabeth Hospital Ultrasound Department and nursing staff for their compassionate care and support.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 5144, Beaumont, Texas 77726; or the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, P.O. Box 498, Emmitsburg, Maryland, 21727.

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