William Earl Drews

William Earl Drews May 5, 1944 - May 4, 2008 William Earl Drews of Hewitt died Sunday, May 4, 2008, at his home. Monday would have been his 64th birthday. Funeral services will be at 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, May 7, at Peace Lutheran Church with the Pastor Stephen Rynearson officiating. Burial will follow at Waco Memorial Park. Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m., Tuesday, May 6, at Wilkirson Hatch Bailey Garden Room. William was born May 5, 1944, in Riesel, Texas, to Arthur and Lena Drews. He grew up in Falls County, but lived most of his adult life in McLennan County near Waco. In 1970 he met Linda Bell at work. They wed on June 12, 1971, and eventually settled in Hewitt where they raised two children: a girl and a boy. A charter member and founder of Peace Lutheran Church of Hewitt, he served as the congregation's youth director for 30 years. He encouraged summer volleyball for the youth groups and loved to take the kids on retreats and camp outs. He was a man always and forever busy with his hands. He liked woodworking and used his garage as a shop where he built cabinetry and launched remodeling projects, many of them for friends. Gardening was another of his pleasures. He loved the manicured precision of a freshly mowed lawn and planted many red oak trees on his half-acre lot. He was known as a man of enormous energy who was never still, a man always eager to help others. In 2004, he retired from the Texas Farm Bureau after 35 years of service and only very recently learned that he had cancer. He was preceded in death by his father, Arthur Drews. He is survived by his wife of 36 years; his son, Jeffrey Drews of Hewitt; his daughter, Tracey Rogers and her husband, Ben; and a granddaughter, Morgan, of Keller; his mother, Lena Ida Drews of Marlin, Texas; brothers, Edward Drews and his wife, Linda; Gene Drews and his wife, Joann; and Leonard Drews; as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Pallbearers are Ross Sandhoff, Ron Crosslin, Ray Lina, Glenn Deloach, Steven Melde, Darryl Schmedthorst and Charles Murray. In lieu of flowers memorial may be made to Peace Lutheran Church. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Peace Lutheran Church. The family invites you to leave a message or memory in our "Memorial Guestbook" at www.wilkirsonhatchbailey.com. Wilkirson Hatch Bailey