With a smile that lit up a thousand hearts and a spirit that touched hundreds of lives, Rex Fleming is the epitome of an inspirational story.
"The kind of young man, the kind of son you'd love to have," said Vince Garrett, the Associate Athletics at Abilene Christian University.
"He was such a witty kid, he'd come back with a zinger so fast," said ACU Head Coach Ken Collums.
Diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2010, ten-year-old Rex's battle with cancer ended Sunday night, when he passed away at his home.
"To see Rex go through this, it affects all of us," Collums said.
The son of ACU's Associate Director of Media Relations, Lance Fleming, Rex was a fixture at football games across the Big Country, even making the coin toss and calling the first play in a crucial game against West Alabama earlier this month.
"Rex has always been doing his rehab here, he was up here all the time and he was taken under the arms of Mitchell Gale, our football quarterback," Garrett said.
"I called him Sexy Rexy, he just hated that and would tell me to just shut up," laughed Mitchell Gale.
Over the years, as his prognosis improved then sharply declined, Gale and Rex forged a bond no one saw coming.
A bond and a friendship that will go with gale for the rest of his life.
"Honestly, I'm at peace, and I'm almost joyful, because he's no longer battling cancer, he's no longer a ten-year-old kid who has to overcome circumstances to find joy. He's up there waiting on all of us," Gale said.
A life ended far too soon, but a legacy that will live on forever.
A public graveside service will be held at Elmwood Memorial Park at 9:30 a.m. on Friday, followed by a memorial service to celebrate Rex's life at Pioneer Drive Baptist Church.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks donations be made to the Rex Fleming Endowed Scholarship at ACU.
"The kind of young man, the kind of son you'd love to have," said Vince Garrett, the Associate Athletics at Abilene Christian University.
"He was such a witty kid, he'd come back with a zinger so fast," said ACU Head Coach Ken Collums.
Diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2010, ten-year-old Rex's battle with cancer ended Sunday night, when he passed away at his home.
"To see Rex go through this, it affects all of us," Collums said.
The son of ACU's Associate Director of Media Relations, Lance Fleming, Rex was a fixture at football games across the Big Country, even making the coin toss and calling the first play in a crucial game against West Alabama earlier this month.
"Rex has always been doing his rehab here, he was up here all the time and he was taken under the arms of Mitchell Gale, our football quarterback," Garrett said.
"I called him Sexy Rexy, he just hated that and would tell me to just shut up," laughed Mitchell Gale.
Over the years, as his prognosis improved then sharply declined, Gale and Rex forged a bond no one saw coming.
A bond and a friendship that will go with gale for the rest of his life.
"Honestly, I'm at peace, and I'm almost joyful, because he's no longer battling cancer, he's no longer a ten-year-old kid who has to overcome circumstances to find joy. He's up there waiting on all of us," Gale said.
A life ended far too soon, but a legacy that will live on forever.
A public graveside service will be held at Elmwood Memorial Park at 9:30 a.m. on Friday, followed by a memorial service to celebrate Rex's life at Pioneer Drive Baptist Church.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks donations be made to the Rex Fleming Endowed Scholarship at ACU.
