Larry Houston Reeves

Larry Houston Reeves died May 31, 2014, at his home in Show Low surrounded by his family after a very lengthy illness. He was born May 5, 1934, in Waterford, Calif., to George and Urda Reeves. Houston was a name passed down from his grandfather, Houston Moses Reeves, who was named after General Houston. Larry spent his younger years living with his grandmother and grandfather and went to school in Clarkdale, then later to Camp Verde. When he was 18, he enlisted in the Air Force May 19, 1952. His specialty title through his 10-year career was a reciprocating engine mechanic. While traveling many places, including Guam, which was his favorite place, he ended up at Whiteman Air Force Base in Knob Noster, Mo., which was a strategic air command base. His favorite plane to work on was the B-29. While at Whiteman, a call came in for an engine change on a KC-97, Larry and six other airmen were chosen for the job. They dissembled the old engine and replaced it with a new one in four hours and 55 minutes, setting a new 340th record. The average engine change was over eight hours. Larry took great pride in his accomplishment. While stationed at Whiteman, he met and married Alma Lea Neff, whose nickname was Dusty. They had two sons and a daughter while still in Missouri. After learning his grandfather in Show Low was having serious health problems, he decided to retire as a staff sergeant and move to Show Low. After the move, they had another son. Larry worked at Dora Brothers after moving to Show Low, then the Snowflake Papermill where he worked 26 years before retiring on a disability. Larry loved Roosevelt Lake, where he and his family spent many weekends with friends fishing, boating, walking the lake and relaxing there. He also loved to go to Kino Bay, Mexico, where friends from the mill and their wives would meet and spend a few days. Another place he loved to go was Gallup, N.M., where he and Dusty would metal detect for a couple of days. But then his health problems started slowing that down. Larry could tell you which metal detector to buy because he owned a few and he could remember where he found most of his coins or jewelry. It was very hard for him not to be able to metal-detect but his illness finally stopped it. Larry was a member of the First Baptist Church in Show Low. Those left to treasure his memory are his wife, Dusty of 55 years; granddaughter, McKenna who lived with Larry and Dusty; daughter Donna Russ (Robert) of Burton; sons Randy Reeves (Vicky) of Prescott Valley, Kenny Reeves (Misty) of Show Low and David of Buckeye; 7 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his brother who died as an infant, his dad George Reeves, mother Urda Reeves, grandfather Houston Moses Reeves and grandmother Addie Reeves. Services for the family and friends will be held at a later date.