Dee Anne Reaves

Dee Anne Reaves, age 55, of West, went to claim her eternal reward surrounded by her family early Thursday morning, January 20, 2011 at her residence, after a long and courageous battle with breast cancer. A Chaplet of Divine Mercy will be recited 4:00 p.m. Sunday at St. Mary's Catholic Church of the Assumption by the Acts Sisters, followed by visitation until 6:00 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 1:30 p.m. Monday at St. Mary's Catholic Church of the Assumption, with Rev. Ed Karasek and Rev. Anthony Odiong as celebrants. Burial will follow at St. Mary's Cemetery. Dee Anne was born October 30, 1955 in Plainview, the daughter of Willie Dee and Fronie Lou (Robinson) Watson. She attended schools in Plainview and graduated from Plainview High School in 1974 before attending West Texas State University graduating in 1978 with degrees in French and German Education. She moved to Houston and worked at Blue Cross Insurance. While there she met her future husband, Walter "Skip" Reaves and they were married on March 21, 1981 in Friendswood. Shorty thereafter they moved to West where they remained. Dee Anne was an active member of the community. She was instrumental in starting the West Library and the construction of a new library building. She was a member of the West Kiwanis Club and became its first female president. She also served on the Board of the West Hospital Authority. Dee Anne became a teacher and librarian for St. Mary's School and the children there became her second family. Over the years, she taught history and was the religious education director. When she started having difficulty teaching, she took over the library. The many children she taught experienced firsthand, her deep faith and learned how to live out that faith. No matter what they did, she saw each child as a child of God. Dee Anne had a love of history, and put her all into preparing students for the history fair, and on one occasion was named the outstanding teacher. She had an encyclopedic knowledge of history and especially Church History. She could always add something to any story, something that did not endear her to tour guides. She was a faithful member of St. Mary's Catholic Church of the Assumption. She was also a member of the S.P.J.S.T. Lodge No. 54 in West. Dee Anne is preceded in death by her parents and a nephew, Jared Lovelady. Survivors include her beloved husband of 29 years, Walter "Skip" Reaves of West; a daughter, Mika Michelle Runyan and her husband Christopher of West; a son, Matthew Michael Reaves of West; two sisters, Anita Lovelady and her husband Mike of Cypress and Lynell Ritchardson and her husband Johnny of Washburn; three special grandchildren, Madison, Cailee, and Hunter Runyan; two nephews, Jacob and Jeremy Lovelady; and many other relatives and friends. Active pallbearers are David Pareya, Dennis Gloeckner, Andrew Mocio, Joe Gough, Nick Mocio and Adam Gloeckner. Honorary pallbearers are past and present Teachers and Students of St. Mary's School in West. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Mary's School Endowment Fund.