Posted on 10/23/2018
Corbett L Reagan II (October 26, 1944 – October 11, 2018)
Corbett Lee (Corky) Reagan II of Ft. Worth, Texas, passed away on October 11, 2018 at the age of 73. He was born on October 26, 1944, in Kennett, Missouri, the first child of Corbett Lee and Jeffie Jean Reagan. Corky attended school in Kennett and graduated from Kennett High School in 1962. He was a National Merit Finalist and was a member of the K Club, Key Club and the tennis team. He attended Westminster College and Arkansas State University.
Corky served in the Army during the Vietnam War and reached the rank of Captain. While after his discharge from the service he worked for many years in the auto sales and finance industry, in many ways his life was defined by his military service. Having attended the United State Naval Academy for a short time, he was in the Navy reserve when he enlisted in the Army at the height of the Vietnam War. After completing Armor OCS at Fort Knox, he volunteered to go to Viet Nam where his MOS was changed from Armor to Infantry. He served in combat for two successive terms covering more than two years. He received the Silver Star and Bronze Star for meritorious service and valor as well as the Purple Heart and numerous other metals and citations.
While on Okinawa during a period of R&R, he met and married Yoriko Ishiki of Tengan, Okinawa, Japan, on February 24, 1971 and two children were born to their union. After leaving the Army he and his family lived in a variety of places including Memphis, Tennessee; Broken Arrow, Oklahoma; and Vancouver, Washington. However, his time in combat took its toll on his life and eventually he was diagnosed with PTSD resulting in total disability. Since his diagnosis, he lived a quiet life in Ft. Worth. His primary wish was that he would be able to live in his own home for the remainder of his life and that after his death he be buried at Arlington National Cemetery. His family is pleased that the first of those wishes was fulfilled when he passed away quietly in his sleep, and because he had prearranged for his burial at Arlington, the second will be fulfilled at a later date.
Corky was preceded in death by his parents and his stepmother, Jo Ann Reagan.
Survivors include a son, Corbett Lee (Skip) Reagan III of McKinney, Texas; a daughter, Anthia Nickerson and husband, Sam, of Great Barrington, Massachusetts; two grandchildren, Kira Elizabeth and Bode McGuire Nickerson; two brothers, Stephen Robert Reagan and wife, El Reba, of Springfield, Missouri and Richard Dane Reagan and wife, Judy, of Prague, Oklahoma; two sisters, Julia Anne Harmon and husband Tom, of Shawnee, Oklahoma and Marian Sue Buster and husband, Terry, of Phil Campbell, Alabama; one stepbrother, Lee Hicklin and wife, Michele, of Painter, Virginia, and many extended family members and friends.
The family expresses a special thanks to William Sterling, a close friend to Corky and a fellow disabled veteran. Bill was of great assistance as Corky's health began to deteriorate, looking in on him frequently and helping him with doctors' appointments and other matters. His friendship was very important to Corky and his service to Corky is deeply appreciated. Burial will be at a later date at the Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia. A gathering of relatives and friends to remember Corky is planned for the spring in Kennett, Missouri, and a separate notice of that event will be published at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to charities that benefit veterans, or the charity of your choice.
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