After losing my father to Alzheimer's, I wanted to honor his memory in a way that would make a difference.
It is hard to summarize this man who had such a great life into a tiny paragraph, but I'll give it a shot. Here is a little about my dad:
Joe H. Reeves, 73, of Spring, Texas, passed away peacefully on August 21, 2026, surrounded by those he loved most.
Joe was born on October 15th, 1952, in Borger, Texas, to Marvin Clayton Reeves and Flossie ‘Elizabeth’ Reeves. He later grew up in Pasadena, Texas, alongside his older brother, Jack, and younger brother, James. After graduating from Pasadena High School, Joe proudly served his country in the United States Coast Guard.
Following his military service, Joe attended The University of Texas at Austin, where he earned a degree in electrical engineering. A lifelong learner with an ever-present curiosity, or perhaps simply a glutton for punishment, Joe eventually decided that one degree was not enough. He went on to earn an MBA from The University of Texas at Tyler, and later earned his law degree from South Texas College of Law.
His education reflected something that remained true throughout his life: Joe loved to learn, loved to understand how things worked, and usually had an opinion about how they could work a little better. He worked in numerous industries throughout the Houston area where he met the love of his life, Ester, whom he married in 1989.
Those who knew Joe best will remember his intelligence, quick wit, and exceptionally dry sense of humor. You could always tell when he had just delivered a terrible joke by the groans coming from everyone around him. Beneath that dry humor, however, was an extraordinarily generous heart. Joe was always willing to lend a helping hand to someone in need. He freely gave his time, knowledge, and talents, and he was the kind of person others could count on whenever something needed to be done.
Joe’s faith was an important part of his life. He was an active member of Champion Forest Baptist Church, where he found fellowship, purpose, and opportunities to serve others. His faith was demonstrated not simply through words, but through his generosity and the way he cared for those around him.
Of all the titles Joe held throughout his life, Coast Guardsman, engineer, attorney, student, and proud Longhorn, none meant more to him than husband and father. He shared nearly 37 years of marriage with his beloved wife, Ester, and his love for Ester and Hilary was at the center of his life. Joe is survived by his loving wife, Ester Rivas Reeves; his daughter and son-in-law, Hilary Reeves-Lopez and Paulo Lopez; his brothers, Jack Reeves and James Reeves, and James’s wife, Betty; his sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, John and Anita Abernethy, Dan and Kay Rivas, and Joe Rivas; and his beloved nieces and nephews, Chris VanTuyl, Nicole Rivas, Allison Rivas, Kevin Abernethy, and Steven Abernethy.
Joe leaves behind a legacy of faith, service, curiosity, generosity, laughter, and love. His family will deeply miss his wisdom, his helping hands, his perfectly timed dry remarks, and his unmistakable presence. In lieu of flowers, we kindly request that memorial donations be made to Alzheimer’s research or an organization of your choice in Joe’s honor.
