Trezzie Abram Pressley, Jr., 84, of Commerce, passed away on Tuesday, November 7, 2017 in Greenville, Texas.  He was born on May 6, 1933 in Rogers, Texas, the son of Trezzie Abram Pressley, Sr. and Irene Pressley Hightower.  Visitation will be from 5:00-7:00 p.m. on Friday, November 10, 2017 at Commerce Funeral Home.  A funeral service will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, November 11, 2017 at First Baptist Church, Commerce with Reverend Kris Myers officiating.  Interment will follow at Rest Haven Memorial Park in Rockwall, Texas.

Trezzie graduated from Cumby High School.  Shortly thereafter, in 1953, he enlisted in the United States Army.  He was responsible for Human Resources, dealing with the status and placement of many officers and enlisted men.  Trezzie was a true patriot.  He was very proud of his service and took the responsibility very seriously.  He could not stand tall enough any time he heard the anthem played of the nation he loved. Trezzie married Peggy Preston on May 28, 1955 in Quanah, Texas.   He and Peggy have been faithful members of First Baptist Church in Commerce for 54 years.  During that time, Trezzie served in many different capacities. He was Chairman of the Deacons and served on many various committees.  He was involved in the music ministry; singing in a quartet and leading various musical groups.  One of his favorite places of service was being a greeter.  He was known for his friendly smile and helping ladies to and from their car with an umbrella, when necessary.

Trezzie received his PhD in 1964 from The University of Arkansas.  His career in education began at Arkansas Tech, where he taught for 8 years.  Following that, he taught at East Texas State University, where he served as the Department Head for the Marketing and Management Department as well as the Dean of the College of Business.  He retired in 1995 after 30 years of service to the University. 

Trezzie is survived by his loving wife of 62 years, Peggy; his children, Blake Pressley, Shea Pressley and his wife, Susan and Zane Pressley and his wife, Marie; grandchildren, Amber Pressley, Nikki Pressley, Rachel Stricklin and her husband, Matthew, Preston Pressley and his wife, Melissa, Brittany Wadley and her husband, Reese and Michael Pressley; great grandchildren, Georgia Stricklin and Wilder Stricklin and a sister, Martha Hightower.

He was preceded in death by his father, Trezzie Pressley, Sr. and his step-father and mother,  P.G. and Irene Hightower; brothers, P.G. Hightower, Jr., Dwight Hightower and James Hightower and a sister Fayrene McGilvray.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that gifts in Trezzie’s memory be made to the TAMU-C Foundation, Trezzie and Peggy Pressley Endowment, PO Box 3425, Commerce, Texas 75429 or to the First Baptist Church, Commerce.

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