Rex Henderson

Rex Douglas Henderson went to be with his Lord and Savior on April 30, 2025, at the age of 77. He left this world surrounded by loved ones with his favorite album playing softly in the background, Kelly Hastey’s “Cowboy Up”.

Rex was born on May 7th, 1947, in Waterloo, Iowa, and moved to Lubbock, TX, in his youth with his brother Randy and their parents, the late Don and Wanda Henderson. He graduated from Monterey High School in Lubbock, TX, in 1965.

After graduation, Rex went to work for his Dad at Don’s Flowers on 34th St. and later built a greenhouse in his backyard and began selling plants to flower shops in the greater Lubbock area. Years later, he and his good friend and partner, the late Larry Wiley, opened Western Greenhouses in Lubbock, TX. They were a potted plant wholesaler, and the greenhouse was full of beautiful poinsettias they grew every year for the Christmas season. Hundreds of poinsettias were donated to local Ronald McDonald Houses and nursing homes every year.

Western Greenhouses was listed for sale after the unexpected passing of his partner Larry, and Rex pivoted from part-owner and operator to managing both Western Greenhouses and Sun Acres. Sun Acres was forced to close its doors due to unforeseen and uncontrollable circumstances a few years later, and Rex was in the job market with no clear path for the first time in his adult life. His friend Jackie Pierce was a Produce Director at United Supermarkets and asked Rex if he’d be interested in starting floral sales and operations at United Supermarkets. Soon after, Rex was hired as Floral Director and traded in his greenhouse clothes for dress shoes, a tie, and a smock for the first time in his career. Rex went on to staff and scale up a very successful floral operation for United Supermarkets in dozens of stores across West Texas. He regularly exceeded corporate goals for floral while maintaining the values of a family florist within the walls of a family-owned retail grocer. He was featured as Mr. Monopoly in print, and in television commercials with United. Rex retired from United Supermarkets in 2013 after 20 years of service and handed the torch off to Bradley Gaines, one of many people he mentored who was also one of his very dearest friends. Rex’s legacy is still upheld with the team he put in place at United Flowers Shops. Rex and his team built fresh floats for Lubbock’s 4th on Broadway for many years. Liberty Bells, It’s a Small World, and Buddy Lives were some of his favorites. United started a service award in Rex’s honor, an annual “Rex Henderson Service Award”. It is given out to one floral team member yearly. The award is based on service to the communities United Supermarkets serves.

Rex met the love of his life, Retta Henderson, at United Supermarkets, and they were married by the late Bill Lowry at Cagle Steaks in 1997. Guests were treated to mouthwatering steaks during the reception and Rex and Retta drove off from the wedding in their classic 1940 Buick hotrod. Retta was featured in a sign that hung from the ceilings over the floral departments at United, appropriately titled, “Basket Full of Love”. Rex and Retta, who coined themselves “R & R”, were perfect for one another. Retta was an exceptional cook in the kitchen, and Rex an exceptional pitmaster on his prized smoker. Both were talented gardeners and flower arrangers, and there have been fresh flowers and plants in their home since the day they met. They still have a fully functional greenhouse in their backyard.

Retta helped Rex become a better man. They attended Aldersgate Church for over 30 years and did everything together. Their favorite holidays were Christmas and Easter, and their house was always decorated for every holiday and every season. They also loved their lap dogs Chester and Aspen. Rex and Retta loved each other dearly until the very end, and in Rex’s final hours, Retta whispered sweet and comforting words into his ear and kissed him on the cheek.

Rex loved everything Texas Tech. He watched every football, basketball, and baseball game he could possibly watch. He also started watching the Texas Tech Women’s Soccer team after his granddaughter attended a couple of their annual soccer camps. Rex also loved the late Mike Leach. Rex and Retta traveled to Las Vegas in 2012 to support Coach Leach with his new team, Washington State. Rex had signs made and wore a Texas Tech shirt and pirate garb to the game. After the game, a well-known sports publication published a short article about him appropriately titled, “Old Texas Tech Pirate is Your Spirit Animal”. Rex planted a Texas Tech flag in their front yard on every game day and wore a Texas Tech polo shirt with his final outfit.

Rex loved coaching kids in baseball in his younger years. He coached in Southwest Little League from the mid 1980’s to the early 90’s. His teams were always competitive, and he led them to the city playoffs several times. He also coached a team in the local Lubbock Challenger Little League for several summers. In this league, Little League players were “buddied” with challenged players and played the game of baseball. The kids were always so excited to see “Mr. Rex” and have a chance to play the game. Rex touched dozens of kids lives while coaching baseball.

Rex loved music. He was very proud of his brother Randy’s musical talents. He also enjoyed listening to Joe Ely, Kelly Hastey and the Cowboy Church Band, and country music in general. Rex also loved fly-fishing for trout in the streams of New Mexico and joined his buddies in his later years for an annual striper fishing adventure at Lake Texoma.

Rex also loved meeting his brother Randy and several of their lifelong friends every month at Triple J on Buddy Holly Ave. They called themselves the “Geezers” and congregated over lunch and shared stories and laughs. They were scheduled to meet on the day of Rex’s passing, and they still met because they felt that was what Rex would have wanted. The “Geezers” were all very good friends and were all very special to Rex.

There’s a huge piece of Rex’s story that hasn’t been told yet – the Prison Ministry at Aldersgate Church. When he retired, Rex found things to do to keep active, but he was looking for a greater purpose. One Sunday, while attending service with Retta, the church announced that they were looking for help with their prison ministry. Rex jumped at the opportunity. He had a story to tell the inmates and felt he could help lead them to accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Rex drove out to the jail every Tuesday morning for over 10 years to give them service. One time, he gave communion to 90 inmates in one service. When an inmate was released and needed help getting back on their feet, Rex advocated for them. The Aldersgate Prison Ministry was Rex’s passion and gave him the purpose he was seeking. Rex had a lot of sound advice to give in his life, but if you asked him for only one piece of advice in his later years, it would be to accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. Rex placed a stack of “Get Well” letters from the inmates in the front of his Bible before his last trip to the hospital.

Rex was a lifelong petal pusher; please send someone flowers in Rex’s honor. The family asks that any donations be made to Aldersgate Church with “Prison Ministry” on the Memo line. Their mailing address is 10306 Indiana Avenue, Lubbock, TX 79423.

Retta and the family would like to extend our deepest gratitude to friends, neighbors, former neighbors, and the church for their unwavering show of support and love during these difficult times. It warms our hearts to be surrounded by so many wonderful people, true salt of the earth people.

Rex is survived by his loving wife Retta Henderson of Lubbock, TX, her daughter D’Yon Butler and husband Gary Butler of Midland, TX, and their children Bailey and Brighton, as well as her son David Hawkins of north Texas and his children Lance, Logan, and Samantha. Rex is also survived by his brother Randy Henderson and his wife Gwen of Colorado City, TX, and their children Ty and Tana. Rex is also survived by his Aunt Beverlee Flowers and husband Tim of Miami, TX, and their children Mindee and Ashlee. Rex is also survived by his daughter Amber Parker and her husband Matt of Arlington, VA, and their children Tyler, Travis, and Trevor, as well as his son Jared Henderson of San Antonio, TX, and his daughter Cerenity.

Rex is preceded in death by his father, Donald E. Henderson, of Colorado City, TX, and his mother, Wanda H. Lowry of Colorado City, TX.