Rusty Hendrix

Doyle “Rusty” Hendrix Jr. was born October 19, 1946 in Dallas, Texas to parents Doyle and Lucille (Jackson) Hendrix. Rusty passed away on June 13, 2018 in McKinney, Texas.

He grew up in Oak Cliff and graduated from Adamson High School where he held leadership roles in numerous sports as well as student activities. His proudest moment was at age 15, he achieved the rank of Eagle Scout with his father as scoutmaster.

He had plans to attend UT Austin, but then chose “transportation over education” when his dad won a ’65 Ford Mustang in a sales contest for Parker Pen Company and handed the keys over to Rusty! (UT didn’t allow freshmen to have cars on campus) He spent his freshman year at Southwestern University in Georgetown Texas before transferring to University of North Texas in Denton to complete his degree in marketing. While at Georgetown he pledged Kappa Alpha Order, and then went on to become president of the chapter at UNT, making many lifelong friendships.

Rusty married Marty Hargis and started his sales career with Sunbeam Appliance company, relocating all over the Midwest, including Huntington, West Virginia where his son Neal was born in 1973.

He returned to the Dallas area in the late ’70’s and spent the rest of his sales years in the manufacturing industry. Rusty married Sara Hammond in 1984 and their passions included travel, hunting, playing golf and tennis, fishing, enjoying gourmet food, and traveling to their vacation home in Red River New Mexico for 10 years.

Over the years Rusty was deeply proud of being an assistant scoutmaster for his son’s troop and saw Neal achieve the rank of Eagle Scout. They made the classic father/son pilgrimage to Philmont Scout Ranch out of Cimarron, New Mexico and completed a 55-mile hiking/camping trek in the mountains, celebrating their victory by finishing at the top to the Tooth of Time on the ranch.

Rusty had a great love for God, family and friends as well as his treasured puppy dogs over the years. He charmed everyone he met, a great story teller, prankster and always getting in one more joke.

He enjoyed the outdoors, enduring the hot Texas summers to watch Texas Rangers and Roughriders Baseball. He was an avid golfer, making his one and only Hole in One at Oakridge CC in Garland, also winning a member/guest and senior tourney. His best game was when he played 18 holes on Easter dressed in a full sized bunny suit and chewing on a cigar!

He was proud of his talented grand kids, attending a rock concert or dance recital, always wondering what they would achieve next.

Rusty retired from corporate Sales in 2003, and then went back to work in 2008 for Market Street grocery store in Allen. He was a cashier and took his job seriously, but made everybody laugh and to this day his co-workers remember him as having a great joke or story to make them have a better day.

Rusty, from your wife of 34 years, I can say that I never got tired of your stories and wit, and your caring for me and praying for me even through your illness tells me how much character you have always had.

Rusty is survived by his loving wife Sara Hendrix, son Neal Hendrix and his wife Karen, grandchildren Ryan and Meredith Hendrix, Neal’s mother Marty Hendrix and his beloved dog Newt. He was preceded in death by his parents and his sister Kay Akins.

The family will receive friends Saturday, July 21, 2018 from 4-6:00 P.M. at Allen Family Funeral Options, 2112 W Spring Creek Pkwy, Plano, Texas,75023. Words of Remembrance will be shared at 5:00 P.M.