Bob Reeves
Robert J. Reeves, 82, of Heritage Manor Nursing Home in Mount Sterling, and formerly of Perry, died late Wednesday evening, April 28, 2010, at the nursing home. (Bob probably wouldn’t agree with that opening paragraph of his obituary. He’d tell you that he was from Perry…period. The Manor was just his summer home.) He was born Aug. 13, 1927, in Perry, son of the late J. Vail and Zoe Ingram Reeves. He married Alma Marciel on Feb. 18, 1949, in Honolulu, Hawaii, and she survives. (Alma always corrected me.) Also surviving are two daughters, Roberta Dougherty and husband Don of Perry and Maile Hills and husband Joe of Mount Sterling; (I want to apologize to you, Maile, for Mark and Keith picking on you so much when we were growing up. Remember: I was the one who was nice to you.) a son, Mark Reeves (You’ve got a lot to answer for, Mark.) and wife Ruth of Griggsville; seven grandchildren, Krista Savage and husband Doug and Trisha Hills, all of Quincy, Jason Hills and wife Kari and Bryan Hills and wife Jami, all of Mount Sterling, Tracy Flowers and husband Jamie of Perry, Sarah Freeman and husband Jon of Griggsville and Ashli Freesmeyer and husband David of Wetumpka, Ala.; six great-grandchildren; two sisters, Clara Vail Crank of Lacon and Jenni Lee Scoggins of Alton; one brother, Richard O. Reeves of Arizona; two sisters-in-law, Betty Reeves of Liberty and Delores Reeves of Pittsfield; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; and two brothers, Gene Reeves and Edwin Reeves. Bob was a 1945 graduate of Perry High School. Following school, Bob enlisted in the U.S. Navy and was stationed in Hawaii during the war, which is where he met and fell in love with his wife, Alma. He was a past employee of Perry Farm Equipment in Perry and Bader Agriculture Products in Meredosia. Bob was a past board member of (well…practically everything) Perry Schools, past president of Perry PTA, a member of People to People, Pike Promenaders, Country Couples, Perry American Legion Post and was Perry Pioneer Days Honored Citizen. From Ecclesiastes… 1 For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: 2 a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; 3 a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; 4 a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; 6 a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; 8 a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace. 9 11 He has made everything beautiful in its time; also he has put eternity into man's mind
No matter your politics, you have to agree with Hillary Clinton’s statement… “It takes a village to raise a child” was true about Bob and true about Perry. I think I was about five years old before I figured out whether Bob, Maro Johnson, or Elmer was my dad. Or it might have been Skillet Hannant but he didn’t look anything like me. I knew it was one of them because they all were sort of there all the time. I was pretty sure that Freida was my mom because she was the one who cooked supper, but Alma’s macadamia nut cookies sometimes showed up as dessert so I was confused again.
Keith and Mark were brothers but they seemed to go different places to go to bed at night, and Roberta and I often spent more time together than we did with our real family. We were never quite sure where Maile figured in there but she was always around. ..and she seemed the happiest of the group…maybe she was adopted.
My students often complained of other kids’ parents telling on them then they’d get in trouble at home. In Perry our parents skipped that step and did the punishment right on the spot.
And the encouragement…. When Mark and Keith played ball together, Bob and Elmer cheered with equal enthusiasm. Once sat in the audience and watched a fourth-grade Gary Hannant and Roberta sing a song onstage. Mom cheered for them both. That sort of irritated me.
Bob was the epitome of small town America.
Received this email from a long-time Perry friend: Two things stand out in my mind about Bob. How proud he was to be from Perry and along with Elmer probably carried more tables and chairs to events than most people have even sat in and how proud he was to have served in the US Navy. He was, for a long time the lifeblood of the Perry American Legion and was part of dozens and dozens of honor guards at funerals. Another email: Bob believed in his hometown. When others were too busy, Bob was there doing it. I can remember when he’d host the entertainers for Perry Pioneer Day. He’d take them on a tour of the town. I mean, that didn’t take very long, but Bob wanted them to see what the town had to offer…all four streets.
A phone conversation this week: Bob was the ultimate salesman. He was more like a friend than a salesman.
And one more: Bob’s family was everything to him. He never gave it a second thought. The family came first. And when a call went out for help, Bob was the first one to answer.
Student…Becky…Europe.. money.. didn’t spend any money..instead brought home a great collection of matchbooks, Coke cans printed in German, napkins from Paris cafes, and the autograph of a London policeman. Bob went overseas and I have no idea what he bought, but I know that he brought back a souvenir even more valuable.. Alma. He brought Alma’s always-smiling face to Perry. He brought Alma’s giggle to Perry. He brought Alma’s brand of exotic cooking to Perry. .. Potluck… the usual fare..then you’d bite into something that went “Zing!” and you knew it was Alma’s.
For years I thought the term “Bob and Alma” were one word. “Bob and Alma.” For years when I’d tell someone I was from Perry, their first question was “You know Bob and Alma Reeves?’
One of my dad’s best memories of Bob…… vacuum cleaner.
I have many friends who want to change the world..but they never knew Bob’s secret. To change the world you’ve got to take care of the ones you love. To change the world you’ve got to take care of your home community. To change the world you’ve got to start at home.
From the 12th chapter of Romans…from the “Message” version of the scriptures: 9-10Love from the center of who you are; don't fake it. Run for dear life from evil; hold on for dear life to good. Be good friends who love deeply; practice playing second fiddle. 11-13Don't burn out; keep yourselves fueled and aflame. Be alert servants of the Master, cheerfully expectant. Don't quit in hard times; pray all the harder. Help needy Christians; be inventive in hospitality. 14-16Bless your enemies; no cursing under your breath. Laugh with your happy friends when they're happy; share tears when they're down. Get along with each other; don't be stuck-up. Make friends with nobodies; don't be the great somebody. 17-19Don't hit back; discover beauty in everyone. If you've got it in you, get along with everybody. Don't insist on getting even; that's not for you to do. "I'll do the judging," says God. "I'll take care of it." 20-21Our Scriptures tell us that if you see your enemy hungry, go buy that person lunch, or if he's thirsty, get him a drink. Your generosity will surprise him with goodness. Don't let evil get the best of you; get the best of evil by doing good. You’d have thought that St. Paul had met Bob Reeves.
Bob would always park in my driveway when he and Alma came over to the Arenzville Burgoo. Our fire chief is the unofficial parking warden and several years ago Bob pulled his maroon Buick into my drive just as the fire marshal was coming by. The marshal stopped and shouted, “Hey! That’s a private drive!” Bob said, “That’s okay. We’re from Perry.” The fire marshal shouted back, “Hey! Do you know Bob Reeves?” At the end of each school year instead of a final test I’d hand my students a copy of the following words and ask them to write about the people they knew who seemed to be described here. I couldn’t think of a better epitaph for Bob Reeves. To laugh is to risk appearing the fool: laugh anyway. To weep is to risk appearing sentimental; weep anyway. To reach out for another is to risk involvement; get involved anyway. To place your ideas and dreams before a crowd is to risk their loss; share your ideas anyway, and dream anyway. To love is to risk being loved in return; risk love anyway. To live is to risk dying; risk living anyway. To hope is to risk failure; you must have hope anyway. Bur risks must be taken. The greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing and do nothing - you will dull the spirit. You may avoid suffering and sorrow, but cannot learn, feel change, grow, love and live. Only if you risk are you free.
That’s Bob’s real obituary. Pray with me. PAGE
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