Rotley Tankersley's Obituary
Services for Rotley Tankersley 74, of Lufkin, are scheduled Saturday, February 15, 2020, at noon at Long Chapel C.M.E. Church. Interment will follow at the Davis Memorial Garden. Visitation will be held at 10 a.m. till the time of service.
Mr. Tankersley was born on December 11, 1945, died on February 1, 2020, in Lufkin Tx.Rotley Hassan Tankersley was born December 11, 1945, in Oklahoma City, OK, to the late John W. Tankersley and Sue C. Johnson Tankersley. Rotley lived most of his life in Houston where his mother taught music and his father was the head baseball coach at Prairie A & M University. Mr. and Mrs. Tankersley believed that education makes for better career opportunities.
Rotley has one sister, Ivalyn Patterson, retired principal from Houston Independent School District, and one brother, John L. Tankersley, a retired senior marketing specialist with Cannon Business Solutions.
Rotley attended high school at Higgins Classical Institute in Charleston, Maine, a college preparatory school that Ivalyn and John L. attended as well. While at Higgins Classical Institute he lettered in football, baseball, and basketball.
Desiring to follow in his dentist grand-father's footsteps, Dr. C.B. Johnson, Rotley received his Bachelors of Science degree from Texas Southern University, majoring in biology with an emphasis in research parasitology. He continued his advanced studies at Stephen F. Austin State University completing a Masters in Mid-Management.
The enjoyment of sports with his dad led Rotley to a thirty-year career of umpiring baseball & refereeing basketball and football. He achieved the level of referee in the Southwestern Athletic Conference, calling games in New Orleans, LA., (national championship), Mississippi Valley State University, University of Arkansas at Pinebluff, Jackson State University, and Alcorn State University.
Rotley believed in giving back to his community. His belief was evident in his service as treasurer for the Concerned Black Men of Lufkin, and board member of Greater East Texas Community Action providing meals, housing, and other humanitarian amenities to over 70 counties in Texas. He also continued supporting his alma mater as a member of the Texas Southern University ExStudent Association.
He and his wife Brenda, of forty-four years, loved to travel and visit their five grandchildren. They worked as a team in their beloved Long Chapel CME Church where Rotley served as Chairman of the Steward Board. One of his greatest joys was fishing with his son, Caz.
emory
Rotley leaves to cherish his memory, his wife Brenda, daughters, Ashley (Mark) Grantham, Shayla (Jason) White, TaKisha Kegler, son, Caz Rhett (Crystal) Tankersley, Sister, Ivalyn (James) Patterson, brother, John L. (Denise) Tankersley; grandchildren, Carson and Ariel Grantham, Jordan, Cameron and Reagan White; aunt, Elizabeth Gray; sisters-in-law, Laura K. Shepherd, Florine (Penrod) Alexander; close family friends, Royce and Susan Garrett, Charles and Sellestine Hunt, and a host of nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.
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