Obituary of Elder George Reece

Elder George Reece - age 77 of Westmoreland, passed away in the early morning hours of Tuesday May 22, 2012 at the Westmoreland Care and Rehab. Funeral Services for Elder George Reece were conducted Thursday at 2 pm from the Chapel of Alexander Funeral Home with Elder Landy Presley and Brother Jerry Wix officiating. Randy Reece and Kenneth Biggerstaff served as Honorary Pallbearers. Bruce Huntsman, Rick Roark, Ricky Vance, Jeff Gregory, Mike Parker, Floyd Overstreet, Ricky Reece, Jeff Stafford, Herman Harp, and Danny Graves served as Active Pallbearers. Interment followed in the Siloam Cemetery. George was born on April 15, 1935 in Smith County, Tennessee to the late Henry Reece and Alma Coons Reece. He was one of nine children born to this union. Besides his parents; brothers, Carl Reece, Woodrow Reece, and Grover Hale Reece, sisters, Ardelia Lamb, Maggie Humes, and Hessie Brown also preceded him in death. George married the love of his life, the former Erma Dean Snoddy, sharing fifty-eight years of marriage. Together they made a home and raised a family of three sons. George worked hard as a carpenter to provide for his family. He had a great talent in wood crafting. Horse drawn wagons and porch swings were just a couple of things, George built. Pulling the wagons with his prize mules was what George enjoyed. He often showed off his mules and wagons in the local Christmas Parades. In 1995, George even rode the Father of Bluegrass "Bill Monroe" in a parade. As a young man, George enjoyed the outdoors, Coon hunting at night in the hills and hollows, or out on the river fishing during the day. He always had a love for music, playing guitar in Bluegrass groups for most of his life. George started his sons out playing music at a young age. They formed a group named the "Tennessee Bluegrass". He bought a bus and fixed it up for the family to travel in to festivals. They played at numerous Bluegrass Festivals during their years together. As the boys got older they ventured off into other music groups and continue to play. George loved being at church and family gatherings. With his personality everyone loved begin around George; he could lighten up any gathering. When George was eleven years old the Lord spoke sweet peace to his soul. He joined Goodwill Missionary Baptist Church and later moved to Willard Missionary Baptist Church, where he remains a member. In 1963, the Lord called George to spread the gospel. George has finished his labor down here on Earth and is now in Heaven. The family and his many friends will miss George, but our loss is Heaven's gain. He is survived by; Wife, Erma Dean Reece of Westmoreland, TN, Sons, Bobby Reece and Rulene Turner of Lafayette, TN, Gary (Jaime "Charli") Reece of the Oakdale Community in Macon County, TN, Ronnie (Mary) of the Westside Community in Macon County, TN, Sisters, Ruth Troutt of Gallatin and Elizabeth Guffey of Riddleton, TN, Grandchildren, Randy (Crystal) Reece and Tiffany Winfree, Great grandchild, Brooklyn Winfree, and several step-grandchildren. Alexander Funeral Home, Directors, in charge of arrangements. (615)666-2189 or www.alexanderfh.com