CECIL REECE

Cecil Laverne Reese, 86, formerly of Centralia, Missouri and the Quincy, Illinois area, departed this life on December 12, 2016 at Christian Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri. Laverne was born July 30, 1930 in Ewing, Missouri to Cecil Frederick Henry and Glessie Mae (Brown) Reese. He attended Ewing Public Schools and graduated Salutatorian from Ewing High School Class of 1948. He served in the United States Air Force during the Korean War in Louisiana, USA, France, and Germany. He married Shirley Richardson on May 29, 1954 in Hannibal, Missouri and together they have five children. Later, Laverne married Barbara Whitaker on November 18, 1984 in Lewistown, Missouri and together they have three children. Laverne owned various businesses including Reeseway Milk Service, Reeseway GMC, and Q-City Home Center Inc. and in later years he was involved in other automobile and truck sales. Laverne was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Survivors include siblings Shirley Wenneker, Neil (Nancy) Reese, Sue Wenneker, children Bradley (Annie) Reese, Robin (Robert) Phillips, Clay Reese, Molly Schwada and Glessie Reese, grandchildren Todd Reese, Timothy Reese, Tiffany Reese, Brandon Reese, Michael Ellis, Raven Ellis, Dakota Jenkins, Macyn Schwada, Reese Schwada, Emma Schwada and great-grandchildren. Laverne was preceded in death by his parents, brother Duane Reese, children Christy Reese, Gregory Reese and Cynthia Ellis, and grandchild Maya Dowson. A memorial service for Laverne Reese was held December 17, 2016 at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Mexico, Mo. Burial was in the Lewistown Cemetery next to his parents. Arnold’s Funeral Home in Lewistown in charge of arrangements.Online condolences may be left at www.arnoldsfuneralhome.net