James Rex Boggs peacefully left this world for his home in Heaven on May 10, 2024. Well done thy good and faithful servant. We miss you already. Rex was born on August 9, 1951 in Breckenridge, Texas to his parents Sam Ray Boggs and Albena Givens Boggs. Rex along with his parents and siblings, Shirley, Laverne, Brenda, and Carroll spent many a day camping on the river with family and friends growing up, making a lot of great memories that were shared at family gatherings.
Rex attended Breckenridge High School through his Senior year where he graduated in 1969. In high school he really excelled in shop class, after high school Rex worked as a machinist. He worked for R E Dye Mfg., F&W Ind., and EBAA Iron where he worked 27 years before retiring. After graduation Rex married Lila Hodges and they happily brought Kimberley Renee and Klifton Ray into this world. Rex was a member for 6 years with the National Guard Unit Bravo Battery 2nd Battalion 131st Field Artillery 49th Armored Division. As time passed Rex became a Mud Engineer in the 80’s, he enjoyed this work except how it required him to be away from home. Later on, in the mid 80’s Rex moved to Carbon, Texas to live with his Mother and Step-Father. He was searching for something, but not sure what. His sister Shirley knew exactly what he needed, she told him about the love of Jesus and explained to Rex the plan of salvation. Weeks later Rex went to a revival where Richard Watson was the pastor and Rex had read about the revival in the newspaper. He accepted Christ one night while at the revival and asked Him to come into his heart. His sister Shirley began coming and picking Rex up in her car and bringing him to Mangum Baptist Church because she had heard Duwayne Clower was a preacher on fire for the Lord. Rex loved going to church, after several months Rex started working with the youth at Mangum, it wasn’t too long after there were 50-60 youth attending on Wednesday nights. Rex and Connie were married by Brother Duwayne at a Mangum Fish Fry on May 24, 1986 and a blended family began with Kim, Klifton, Brian, and Shane. Less than a year after Rex and Connie married, Duwayne came and picked up Rex to show him the two original Gunsight Community Buildings across from Gunsight Cemetery. Duwayne and Rex asked around the community and neighbors to see if they were interested in having a church starting there. The first couple they met was Hershel and Louise Boles of the Gunsight Community. They were very excited to have Rex start up church services in the community. The original church had wooden pews, a piano full of wasps, Christmas decorations still up, and a horse trough for a baptistry. Connie and Rex fell in love with the Church. Rex stepped out in big Faith saying with God’s help yes, we can do this and Connie and the kids followed him not thinking twice. From that day forward to this day you are here at the present Gunsight Baptist Church. Rex gave all he had serving our Lord and Savior, with trial and hardships he never wavered. Rex loved serving God, through Church growing pains God provided, when Rex needed strong Christian men to direct him on the road God called him to, God provided. His health got worse through the years and God provided. God may not have healed Rex like we asked, but He provided everything that Gunsight Church and his family needed, I believe because God knows our hearts. Rex put it all in and trusted our Lord and never looked back. Now 37 years later, here we are today receiving the blessing of God while we celebrate the life of James Rex Boggs. In his last few days when people came to visit, he would let them know when you get to Heaven, you will find him at the feet of Jesus. What Christ has done for Rex, He can do for you.
Rex is survived by his wife Connie, children Kim and Cherie, Klifton and Phyllis, Brian and Mandy, Shane and Tessa, Tim and Jenny, his grandchildren Becca and Bret and great grandchildren LylaRay, Anthony, and Austin Lucky, Nathan and Riley Boggs, Chase, Taylor, Brooklyn, and Ryder Bird, Peyton, Lilly, and Stephen Bird, Katelyn and Jeramy Dodson and great granddaughters Adalynn and Aspen Dodson.
Rex was preceded in death by his Mother and Father, his sisters Laverne Myers, Brenda Messenger, and his brother Carroll Boggs, nephews Lonnie Messenger Jr., Tom Myers, James Boggs, Grady Boggs, and Mike Hallum.
