Garrett Cole Luce

Garrett Cole Luce, a 19-year-old sophomore at Texas A&M University, departed this world in a tragic accident on Sunday, the 4th of November 2012, in College Station. He was born on the 25th of January 1993, in Houston, Texas, as the only child and son to his loving parents, Joe E. Luce and Janell King Luce.

Garrett grew up in Houston and attended Second Baptist School from Pre-K through 12th grade, where he graduated Summa Cum Laude in 2011. His early childhood years outside of school were spent on the fields of SBMSA, scouting, piano lessons, children’s choir at Second Baptist Church and dressing up as a cowboy. His passion for baseball started at an early age and he loved playing for the Katy Freeway All-Stars. His summers were highlighted by his terms at Kanakuk Kamps where he was proudly a part of the Choctaw tribe.

As he transitioned into Middle School, sports and music continued to be dueling passions at SBS. These years were highlighted by winning the Private School City Championship in basketball, having the lead role as “Troy” in “High School Musical” and traveling with the Houston Slam to Cooperstown, New York where he hit his first of many home runs in baseball.

His high school years at SBS always revolved around his teammates on the Varsity baseball team, where he played catcher and served as Team Captain his senior year. He was honored to participate in Texas Boys State and to sing in All State Choir as a Tenor. He was an AP scholar, Academic All State Honoree along with many other accolades in baseball. He was named one of the 2011 Outstanding Seniors at SBS. His summers were spent as a lifeguard in Briargrove and playing baseball with the Columbia Angels and the Houston Heat.

Garrett started his college career at the College of Charleston in South Carolina where he was recruited to play baseball, and ended up making life long friends and a love of everything southern. After transferring to Texas A&M in August with the opportunity to study in the Business Honors Program at the Mays School of Business, Garrett also found a home with the southern gentlemen of the Kappa Alpha Order at A&M. He spent this last treasured summer as a baseball coach and counselor at Kanakuk K2 Kamp in Lampe, Missouri, and had the honor of sharing his testimony of faith and redemption with the young men in his care.

He is survived by his parents, Joe E. and Janell King Luce; grandparents, Dr. & Mrs. C. Reginal and Marian King, and Anna V. Luce. In addition to so many aunts, uncles and cousins who will miss him, he also leaves behind Irlanda Reyes, his lifelong nanny and Comadre. His love of his dogs, Cooper and Lizzie, were trademarks.

In his short 19 years, Garrett leaves behind a legacy of kindness, gentleness, an ever present contagious smile, and a love for Christ that shown through in all he was and did. He lived, loved, and cared passionately. His life long verse has always been Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Friends are cordially invited to gather with the family and share remembrances during a reception from five o’clock in the afternoon until eight o’clock in the evening on Friday, the 9th of November, in the Jasek Chapel of Geo. H. Lewis & Sons, 1010 Bering Drive in Houston.

A celebration of Garrett’s life is to be conducted at eleven o’clock in the morning on Saturday, the 10th of November, in the Worship Center of Second Baptist Church, 6400 Woodway Drive in Houston, where Pastor Dave Riggle and Pastor David Dixon, are to officiate.

Immediately following, all are invited to greet the family during a reception in the nearby Deacon’s Parlor.

Prior to the services, the family will have gathered for a private interment at Memorial Oaks Cemetery in Houston.

In lieu of customary remembrances, the family kindly requests that contributions be made to fund a scholarship program in Garrett’s honor, benefiting students attending Second Baptist School and Kanakuk Kamps. Such contributions may be directed to Second Baptist Church, in Memory of Garrett Cole Luce, 6400 Woodway Dr., Houston, TX, 77057.