John Marion Reynolds lived in Nederland for more than 45 years. Marion passed away unexpectedly from natural causes when he was 67 years old on March 13, 2021.
He was born in Dallas Texas, on September 29, 1953, and left home at 15 on a bicycle. He worked in picture framing studios, matting and framing others’ artwork.
He had been together with his wife, Andrea Hancock, since about 1990, and they married in 2012. Andrea said he always enjoyed frequenting all the coffee klatches around town, keeping up with his many friends.
He was a self-employed carpenter by trade and a very prolific artist at heart. He was an honest hard-working man and the best husband anyone could wish for, Andrea said.
Nederland Resident Alan Apt said that anyone who has lived in Nederland for any length of time has seen the innovative artwork of the late John Marion Reynolds. His distinctive and unique sculptures at the Nederland Community Library and Ned’s restaurant, and the bench he made for the Carousel of Happiness lift the spirit and spur the imagination.
He was inspired to create imaginative and unique drawings and abstract art. He was an artist that fashioned realistic birds and horses, and fantastic creatures of the imagination, and perhaps the dream world too, from salvaged iron and scrap metal. He left a legacy of many beautiful sculptures for everyone to enjoy.
Marion was also an accomplished home builder and carpenter and talented stonemason.
The lovely stone terraces around his home attract deer, and provide a backdrop for what was his ever-growing sculpture garden that he loved to work on.
Marion had a wry sense of humor, was very generous with his time and possessions, and was a very energetic person who was always busy with a variety of projects, making the rest of the world seem lethargic.
He is survived by his wife Andrea Hancock, father, Chandler Reynolds and brothers Paul Allen and Burke Allen. Marion’s sculptures will keep his spirit alive with us forever, but we will all truly miss him.
His celebration of life is in the works and details will be published in The Mountain-Ear.
(Originally published in the April 1, 2021, edition of The Mountain-Ear.)
