Jewell K. Reese

Jewell Kenneth Reese, 82, of Poplar Bluff died Thursday, Nov. 20, 2008 at the Oakdale Assisted Living Center, in Poplar Bluff.

Mr. Reese was born June 24, 1926 in Bernie, Mo. He confessed Christ at age 10 and served him faithfully through the years. Mr. Reese was an active member and Deacon of First Baptist Church in Poplar Bluff until his illness, and had retired from John J. Pershing VA Medical Center. He was also a farmer. Mr. Reese was a veteran of the U. S. Army serving as parachutist with the 11th Airborne Division. He was a devoted husband and father and in addition to serving the Lord his greatest enjoyment was spending time with his wife, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

On July 19, 1952, he married Glenda Ray James, in Piggott, Ark. She survives.

Other survivors include three children: Vickie Hefner and her husband Charles, of Poplar Bluff, Sheila Swindle and her husband Harold, of St. Louis and Kevin Reese and his wife Corinne, of Florence, Ala.; two grandsons: Keith Hefner and his wife Stephanie and Gabriel Reese; four granddaughters: Kristi DeArman and her husband Jim, Brandy Turner and her husband Doug, Lydia Reese and Suzanne Reese; four great-grandchildren: Emily Hefner, Dylan DeArman, Allison DeArman and Ethan Turner; four sisters: Norma Guess, of Poplar Bluff, Shirley Caldwell, of Thayer, Mildred Haile, of St. Louis and Nondis Jordan, of Qulin; and two brothers, Yewell Reese and Jerry Reese, both of Nashville, Tenn.

His parents, Walter A. and Ruby (Harper) Reese, and a son, Kenneth Reese preceded him in death.

Visitation will begin at 9:30 a.m. Saturday at First Baptist Church, in Poplar Bluff. The funeral service will follow at 11:00 a.m. with Dr. William Vail officiating. Burial with full military honors will be at Qulin Cemetery.

The family requests that memorials be made to the First Baptist Church Building Fund, 551 North Westwood Blvd., Poplar Bluff, MO 63901.