Donna Carol Reese

Donna Carol Reese, 76, Wann native and resident of Dewey, passed from this life on Sunday in Bartlesville. Donna was born the daughter of Leo and Paulina Victoria “Vic” (Thompson) Deaton on October 14, 1939, in Wann, OK. She attended Wann schools until the family moved to Fairfax in 1947, returning to Wann in 1950. During those years she developed her love for playing basketball and continued to play long after her school years. She graduated from Wann High School in 1957 and soon after married her sweetheart Gary Reese on August 2, 1957, also in Wann. Once married she left her job as the Wann switchboard operator to focus her time on her husband and children. Donna attended all of her kids’ and grandkids’ sporting and school activities. She picked the kids up every day from school even though she didn’t obtain her driver’s license til she was 32 so she could drive sister Bev and herself to town for shopping. Donna and Gary made their home in the Wann until moving to Joplin in 1992, returning to the area in 2002 to their current home in Dewey. Donna’s passions in life centered around her husband, children, grandchildren and in more recent years, great-grandchildren. She was a loving mother and homemaker who took pride in decorating and updating her own home. She loved to fish and spent many evenings at the family lake fishing for crappie and bass until she and Gary moved to Joplin. She enjoyed many memorable trips to Branson with Gary where she came up with many ideas for things for Gary to build and her to decorate. She loved her flowers and working in the yard and she and Gary's yard was the envy of the neighborhood wherever they lived. Donna was a faithful wife and mother who doted on her grandchildren and will be dearly missed. Donna is survived by her loving husband Gary of 59 years; three children Pam Cramer and Joe of Bartlesville, Scott Reese and Sherri, and Kelly Reese and Robin, both couples of Wann; one brother John “Sonny” Deaton and Carol of Wann; brother in law Andy Reese and Alice of Augusta, GA; sisters-in law Dixie Ann Brown and Ray of Cache, OK, Susie Renfro of Ralston, OK, and Marge Barcus of Bartlesville; six grandchildren, Josh Cramer and Candice of Cut Bank, Montana, Whitley Pollet and Cody of Austin, TX, Zach Cramer and Amanda Randall of Bartlesville, Jared Reese and Fiance Paige Parks of Broken Arrow, Shelbi Reese of Wann, and Cayla Scott and Colton of Bartlesville, as well as five great grandchildren, Addyson, Charley and Jensen Cramer, and Milo and Isla Pollet. She is preceded in death by her parents, two brothers Charles Leo Deaton in infancy and Fred Deaton, and two sisters Beverly Harding and Shirley Renfro. Donna’s family will receive friends at the Davis Family Funeral Home, 918-534-3030, 113 S. Osage (Hwy. 75), Dewey, on Tue., Oct. 4, 6-8 pm. Visitation begins Tue. 12-8 pm. Funeral services will be held 10 a.m. Wed., Oct. 5, at Ridin’ for the Brand Cowboy Church with Pastor Jimmy Harrington of Ridin’ for the Brand Cowboy Church officiating. Interment will be at Wann Cemetery. Services are under the direction of Carter Davis and the Davis Family Funeral Home. Online condolences and remembrances may be shared with Donna’s family at www.DavisFamilyFuneralHome.com.

Donna Carol Reese

October 14, 1939 - October 2, 2016