Russ McEwen

Robert Russell McEwen III died October 21, 2012, in Big Spring, Texas at the home he shared with Laura, his wife of 43 years. A memorial service to celebrate his life will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, October 24, 2012 at Trinity Baptist Church in Big Spring, and a public viewing will be held from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 23, 2012 at Nalley-Pickle & Welch Rosewood Chapel.Russ was born May 21, 1949 in Big Spring to Robert and Nettijean McEwen. His father was a long-time Big Spring resident and local businessman, and his mother was a loving wife, nurturing mother, and devoted grandmother whos influence helped mold a six-decade bond of friendship between Russ, his sister, and his brother.Russ graduated from Big Spring High School in 1967 and then attended college at Howard Junior College in Big Spring for two years. During his second year at Howard, Russ married his true love, Laura Suzanne Parks, on December 27, 1968. Russ and Laura soon moved to Austin, where he attended the University of Texas and earned a Bachelors of Business Administration in 1971. Several years later, Russ and Laura returned to Big Spring, the community he would proudly call home for the rest of his life. He established the Russ McEwen Agency in 1975, and it has continued strong for 37 years.Russ had so many passions in life: anything involving the University of Texas; coaching gymnastics over a 20-year career that positively affected the lives of so many (he coached teams to two national championships and numerous individuals to national top ten finishes); and proudly serving the great community of Big Spring on the city council from 1981 until 1988, as mayor from 2000 until 2010, and through other various civic capacities.Russ' ultimate passion, however, was his family. He was a faithful servant of his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He was a devoted, loving, and giving husband to the wife that he felt so lucky to have. He was a loving, caring, and influential father of three children. And he was simply the greatest Pepa in the world to four grandchildren.Russ is survived by his wife, Laura; mother-in-law, Doraine Parks of Kingsland; children and families, Torbin McEwen and Lynn McNeill of Austin; Kisa McEwen Stevens and Josh Stevens of Lamesa; and Drew McEwen and Melisa McEwen of Austin; grandchildren, River Stevens, Bella Stevens, Crichton McEwen, and Kensington McEwen; sister, Diane James McEwen and Ron James of Austin; brother, Scott McEwen and Melanie Mitchell McEwen and their children, Kaitlin McEwen Lipe and family and Grant McEwen and family, all of The Woodlands; and sister-in-law, Lana Parks of Arlington.Russ was preceded in death by his mother, father, and infant brother, Carter McEwen.Donations may be sent to the American Heart Association, P. O. Box 841125, Dallas, Texas 75284-1125, Big Spring Humane Society, P. O. Box 823, Big Spring, Texas 79721-0823 or to Trinity Baptist Church, P. O. Box 1448, Big Spring, Texas 79721-1448.Arrangements under the direction of Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home & Crematory of Big Spring. Online condolences can be made at:www.npwelch.com,