Dwight Herschel Reece

Dwight Herschel Reece died Sunday morning, February 19, 2012 at his home in Show Low, Navajo County, Arizona following a lengthy illness. He was 93 years old. Dwight was born, the ninth of ten children, on Wednesday, January 20, 1919 in Gravette, Benton County, Arkansas to the late James Miles and Cora Marie (Fry) Reece. During World War II, Dwight served in the U.S. Army and was wounded on Leyte Island in The Philippines. He was the recipient of The Purple Heart for his brave actions and, following his honorable discharge, came home to a hero's welcome. He moved to Arizona in 1951 and worked for many years as a dispatcher in the aerospace industry. He has lived in the White Mountains for the past several years and always looked forward to a good fishing trip. He enjoyed the peace he felt as he cast his lines in the cool waters of the local lakes. Dwight was also real handy with his hands and loved to tinker with cars. He would regularly frequent car auctions to buy used cars so he could fix them up and sell them to the people who actually needed them. He was also one who was known to host a great yard sale and was very successful with every one of them. Dwight was a loving husband, devoted father and doting grandfather to his family and was a wonderful friend to many. He will be greatly missed by everyone who knew and loved him. Dwight is survived by: his wife, Margaret Jean (Martins) Reece of Show Low, Arizona; 4 children: Robert Dwight (Carolyn Sue) Reece of Phoenix, Arizona, Linda Ann Fitzpatrick of Lakeside, Arizona, Brian Wayne Reece of Show Low, Arizona, Duane Miles Reece of Show Low, Arizona; 7 granchildren; 18 great-grandchildren and 2 great-great-grandchildren. Dwight was preceded in death by his 9 siblings and 2 grandsons. The funeral service for Dwight Herschel Reece will begin 2:00 P.M., Saturday, February 25, 2012 at Owens Livingston Mortuary - White Mountain Chapel, 320 N. 9th Street in Show Low, Arizona where the visitation will begin 1 hour prior. The concluding service and interment will immediately follow at the Show Low Cemetery where military honors will be rendered by the Veterans of the White Mountains.