Nathan Coolidge Reagan — a fearfully faithful Christian man, devoted husband, and loving father, grandfather, and great-grandfather went home to be with his Heavenly Father on October 30, 2021.
Nathan was born on February 7, 1927 in Overton County, Tennessee. He became a resident of Warren County in his youth and planted roots here. He eloped with his lifelong sweetheart, Elizabeth Ann Poss Reagan, and they were married on December 25, 1952. He joined the Church by baptism on June 14, 1964 and was a long-time member of Newtown the Baptist Church of Christ. Together he and Elizabeth have eight children: Paul (and Penny) Reagan, Rita (and Tony) Ward, Gina (and Joe) Blair, Penny (and Carl) Hayes, Darlene (and Tommy) Bryant), Hal (and Bonnie) Reagan, Lisa (and Russell) Mason, and Scott Reagan, who are all residents of Warren County as well. He leaves behind dozens of grandchildren and great-grandchildren who affectionately called him “Papa.”
Nathan was an incredibly hard working man. He was dedicated to providing for and taking care of his family. He spent more than 30 years driving an 18-wheeler for the Co-op and won several awards for millions of miles in safe driving and driver of the year. He could give you directions to just about anywhere. His spare time was spent always doing something. If he was ever indoors, you could often find him in his recliner and if a grandchild was visiting, they were often squeezed in next to him or sitting on his lap — even well into adulthood. At Christmas, sticky gift bows often adorned his balding head and would provide giggles for all the ‘youngins’ at family gatherings.
He would often ask his older grandchildren if they were working and what they were doing lately. He wanted to make sure that all of his Reagan bunch were productive members of society that were also equipped with a means of taking care of themselves. He didn’t have a lot in the way of possessions — but his family was what he considered his greatest prize. He made memories with his grandchildren whenever he could… seeking out oversized appliance boxes to bring home to create makeshift playhouses and canvases for the younger generations.
Aside from being with his family — Nathan found happiness, before his health began to decline, in tending to small crops in his garden and raising chickens. He was a frequent listener of tradio and piddled in trading animals. You never knew what he might bring home next. He loved piecing together large puzzles and enjoyed a riveting game of solitaire. He insisted on staying informed and often watched the news, read the newspaper, scanned phone books, and searched his globe to become more educated on people, places, and current events.
He may be known best for his sharp wit and hilariously dry sense of humor. You truly never knew what quip he was going to toss out next. He was great at making connections and was often a favorite diner or patron of the places he frequented often. There was no ‘six degrees of separation’ when it came to Nathan — he knew so many people and could piece together a connection to someone he knew in seconds. He had a designated pew at church and was consistently the man all the youth would seek out for a stick of gum and a pinch to the nose.
There was always a seat at the table for you at Nathan’s house. He was an extremely strong-willed man with a full sized heart who has left behind a lasting impact on all who knew him. In the end, he wanted nothing more than to make sure that all his family knew just how much he loved them — especially his loving wife of nearly 69 years. Needless to say, he will be deeply missed by all who were lucky enough to know him.
Funeral service will be 11:00 A.M. Tuesday, November 02, 2021 in the McMinnville Funeral Home Chapel. Bro. Frank Randolph will officiate. Interment will follow at Newton Memorial Gardens Cemetery. The Reagan Family will receive friends from 4:00 P.M. until 7:00 P.M. on Monday and again from 9:00 A.M. until the time of service on Tuesday at the parlors of McMinnville Funeral Home.
