Reginald Zachary “Reggie” Dean was loved by many, but to the few he allowed especially close, he was family. He was generous, loyal, and a mentor to many young men throughout his life. He loved bowling, cooking, fishing, and spending time with the people he cared about. He was also a proud United States Air Force veteran.

Reggie was born February 27, 1960, in Ithaca, New York. His parents were Helen and Ted Dean, and Morrice and Pat Dean. His sisters are Cookie Dean Bates, Terri Lewis, Melissa Holland, and Sharen Holland Loucks.

Beginning in junior high, Reggie formed lifelong friendships with Bill Dockstader and Bernie Hardeway. The three spent many weekends camping and fishing together. It was also during those years that Reggie discovered his love of cooking.

Reggie began his career in the United States Air Force in 1980. During his military service, he served a tour in South Korea. He and Shirley Dean had three daughters: Jackie Dean, Christine Dean, and his beloved late daughter, Trista Dean.

After more than 20 years of service, Reggie retired from the Air Force in 2001. His final duty station was Dyess Air Force Base in Abilene, Texas.

Following his retirement, Reggie spent several years near his best friend, Thane Sisson, and Thane’s wife, Lori. In 2003, the three moved to Lubbock, Texas, where Reggie went to work at a local bowling alley. Bowling had been a lifelong passion, but it also became the way he connected with people who would become an important part of his life.

While working at the bowling alley in Lubbock, Reggie began coaching Nathan and Andrew Sieffert. What started with bowling grew into a relationship that lasted more than twenty years. Reggie became their mentor, friend, and an important presence in their lives. He was also Selena Fogg’s mixed-doubles bowling partner.

In 2008, Reggie suffered a stroke that ended his active bowling days, but it did not end his role as a mentor. He continued reaching out to young men in his neighborhood and became someone teenagers knew they could trust. They could talk to Reggie about their deepest thoughts, worries, and feelings without judgment. He encouraged them to do their best, taught them about God, and encouraged them to turn to the Bible for wisdom and guidance.

In December 2018, as dialysis and other physical challenges made daily life increasingly difficult, Reggie moved to Amarillo, Texas, with the help of his longtime friend Selena Fogg. In 2021, a fall and broken hip left him dependent on a wheelchair, but the circumstances of his life never changed the importance of the relationships he had built over the years.

Reggie passed away peacefully in his home on August 3, 2026.

Those who knew Reggie will remember much more than the hardships of his later years. They will remember the bowler, the cook, the fisherman, the Air Force veteran, the mentor, and the friend. They will remember a man who could be difficult to get close to, but who loved deeply once he let you in. Most of all, they will remember someone who gave his time, wisdom, and friendship generously to the people who mattered to him.

After years of physical struggle, Reggie is finally free from pain and with his Lord and Savior.

He has gone home, and he will be deeply missed.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Friday, August 14, 2026 at 7 p.m. at Shafer Mortuary Funeral Home.

Services have been entrusted to Shafer Mortuary Funeral Home of Amarillo.