Mary Edna Reese

Mary Edna Reese, 91, Schell City, passed away Wednesday, April 7, 2010, at the Moore-Few Care Center in Nevada. She was born Oct. 3, 1918, in Washington D.C., the daughter of Euclid Edward and Mary Ethel (O’Rourke) Testu.

Mary attended school in Washington D.C. where she graduated from high school and then attended Strayer Business College.

On Aug. 11, 1940, she was united in marriage to Ira Franklin Reese and to their union three children were born. Mary took care of the home and children while her husband served in the U.S. Navy during WWII. They were stationed at several bases through Mr. Reese’s military career until his retirement in 1966 when they settled in Florida.

Throughout her life, Mary enjoyed traveling with her husband both stateside and abroad including trips to Europe, China and Spain. She was an accomplished acrylic painter of landscapes and flowers and she always enjoyed intricate needlework. Mary was happily married for 46 years. In 1987, after the loss of her husband, she continued to live independently in Florida. It has just been in the past few years that she lived for a time with both of her daughters.

During her lifetime, Mary lost, not only her husband and parents, but also her son, James, who passed away in 1989 and her daughter, Teresa who passed away just last year.

Survivors include her daughter, Mary McLeod – Schell City; son-in-law, Morris D. Bowling – Fort White, FL; five grandchildren – Mary Louise Blocker and her husband, Thomas – Schell City, Amanda Lynn Skelton and her husband, Gary – Schell City, Gary Stewart McLeod and his wife, Nicki – Wetumpka, AL, Ryan Alexander Leath – Orlando, FL, and Yancy Bowling and his wife, Elizabeth – Oviedo, FL; and eight great grandchildren – Elizabeth, James and Hannah Skelton, Meg Raley, Sarah Blocker, Zachary and Emily McLeod and Gabrielle Bowling.

Services were held at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 10, in St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Nevada with Father Justin Hoye officiating. Musical selections were provided by organist Gwen Schoolcraft, Cantor was Todd Weber. Pallbearers were – Gary McLeod, Gary Skelton, Zachary McLeod, Thomas Blocker, Morris Bowling and Russell Morerod. Cremation followed the service.

Memorial contributions are suggested to the charity of the donor’s choice.

Arrangements were entrusted to the Lewis-Hoagland Funeral Home in Schell City.