William H. Reece

William Harris ""Bill"" Reece, 87, of Poplar Bluff died Thursday, April 16, 2009 at his residence.
Mr. Reece was born April 20, 1921 in Baldwyn, Miss. Attending high school in Arkansas he later completed 3 years at an Arkansas agriculture college in Valley View. Mr. Reece was a member of Twin Springs Baptist Church in Poplar Bluff. The owner and operator of a heavy equipment construction company for a number of years he later retired from Strickland Transportation Company. He was an avid horseman, and was widely known for breeding and training quality horses. Mr. Reece was a charter member of the Big River Appaloosa Horse Club; charter member of Cardiac Cowboys; and a member of the American Quarter Horse Association. A veteran of the U. S. Army during World War II he served 22 months in Iran, 10 months in France, Belgium and Germany, and received three bronze stars and a good conduct medal. Mr. Reece was a member of the SEMO Veteran's Honor Guard; AMVETS; V.F.W. and American Legion. He was also a member of the Naylor Masonic Lodge; was a 32nd degree Mason, and was a member of the Three Rivers Shrine Club.
On March 16, 2006 he married Virginia (Albers) Stanley in Nashville, Tenn. She survives.
Other survivors include his son, Terry L. Reece of Jonesboro; daughters, Rebecca June Rigsbee and husband Tom of Woodbridge, Va. and Dana Susan Wilson of Bartlett, Tenn.; step-daughter, Connie McAlister and husband Jesse of Pendergrass, Ga.; grandchildren, Allison Jumper, Amy Wilson, Eric Wilson, Ryan Reece and Drew Rigsbee; step-grandchildren, Conner McAlister and Shane McAlister; great-grandchildren, Jacob Tomlinson, Reece Jumper, Cross Jumper and Baylee Brooks; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
His parents, William Pink and Florence Virginia (Hendrix) Reece, sisters, Audrey Holmes, Edna Cartwright, Bruce Davidson, Ora Lee McArthur and Helen Noles, brother, J. W. Reece, and grandparents, Ruben and Fanny Reece preceded Mr. Reece in death.
Visitation will begin at 5 p.m. Sunday at Cotrell Funeral Chapel in Poplar Bluff with a Masonic Service (which is open to the public) following at 7 p.m. The funeral service will begin at 1 p.m. Monday at Cotrell Funeral Chapel with the Rev. Obed Kirkpatrick officiating and the Rev. Lloyd Anderson assisting. Burial with full military honors presented by the SEMO Veteran's Honor Guard will be at the Philadelphia Cemetery in Jonesboro, Ark.
The family has requested memorials be made to UCAN (United Cancer Assistance Network), 1419 Maud St., Poplar Bluff, Mo. 63901 or to Haven House (Center for Battered Women and Children), c/o Cotrell Funeral Service, P.O. Box 548, Poplar Bluff, Mo. 63902.