Cover photo for Rex D. Handley's Obituary
Rex D. Handley Profile Photo
1931 Rex 2019

Rex D. Handley

November 8, 1931 — July 27, 2019

On November 8, 1931 Arthur and Emma Hartley Handley welcomed their sixth child into their farm house on Dodd Lane in the Walkertown community of Hardin County. This fourth son joined the growing family as the great depression was crippling the nation. The baby boy was given the name Rex Dee Handley, which later he would proudly say meant "Kingly". Rex grew quickly and became taller than most of his siblings and strong like his dad. The family moved to the Eureka community in 1935 with now 8 children. For the first time, they now had electric lights. The family worked together with the father farming rented land and operating a general store next to the house. Rex proudly said he helped Daddy build that store when he was 5 years old explaining he "handed Dad the nails when he was on the ladder." Rex grew up quickly becoming the helper at home and swimming and fishing in Horse Creek with brothers and friends.

He completed his formal education young and got a job at Massey Boaz Ice Plant delivering ice. With the older boys drafted into the army, Rex joined the National Guard and served for three years. Jobs were scarce in Hardin County and in August 1950 he was inducted into the US Air Force in Memphis and sent to Texas and then to Washington D.C. The war was raging with Korea and Rex was sent to the Philippine Islands. In November 1953, Rex received an early discharge as the Korean War ended. Still few jobs in Savannah so he moved to Flint, Michigan and worked for General Motors for 28 years in the Fisher Body plant.

In Michigan, Rex made friends easily and remained single. He purchased a boat and fished in the Great Lakes. He then met an attractive widow and they dated regularly. Agnes Burleigh was the love of Rex's life and after taking retirement from General Motors and moving back to Savannah he and Agnes were married on June 24, 1989. Agnes told him "he had been happy long enough". They had 26 good years together before her death in 2015. Rex was the oldest male member of Eureka Methodist Church. He enjoyed his cabin on the Tennessee river and he and Agnes built a new home in Olive Hill where they lived until he purchased the Handley home place and moved to Savannah.

Rex and his brothers always enjoyed raising game chickens and made friends all over the area. He loved his little dog Penny and his old cat Flossie, raising goats, gardening, visiting , and history. He and Agnes traveled throughout the US before their health failed. He bragged he had been in all 50 states. He was a storehouse of knowledge and could recall events from decades prior.

Rex is survived by his sister, Patsy Handley Gibbs, a sister-in-law Joyce Handley, 3 step children: Bob Burleigh, Mike Burleigh, Coleen Batson, special cousin Annie Jean Harrison, a host of grandchildren, and 17 nieces and nephews who loved him dearly. He was preceded in death in addition to his wife and parents by 5 nieces & nephews, ten siblings, brothers: Marvin, A. Jack Jr., Dan, Billy, Frank, Bobby, Ted, and Tommy sisters: Thelma Boswell & Bernice Greene. He also leaves his devoted nurse Tonia Franks and many friends.

Memorial donations may be made to Eureka United Methodist Church, Wayne Road, Savannah, TN 38372.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Rex D. Handley, please visit our flower store.

Service Schedule

Past Services

Visitation

Monday, July 29, 2019

5:30 - 8:30 pm (Eastern time)

Shackelford Funeral Directors

450 Church Street, Savannah, TN 38372

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Visitation

Tuesday, July 30, 2019

11:00am - 3:00 pm (Eastern time)

Shackelford Funeral Directors

450 Church Street, Savannah, TN 38372

Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text. Standard text messaging rates apply.

Service

Tuesday, July 30, 2019

Starts at 3:00 pm (Eastern time)

Shackelford Funeral Directors

450 Church Street, Savannah, TN 38372

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Cemetery

Memory Gardens of Hardin County

17361 TN-69, Savannah, TN 38372

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Guestbook

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