Obituary of Wanda Reese

Wanda Reese, 92, passed away peacefully on Saturday, June 15, 2024, surrounded by her family. She was a faithful wife to James Reese, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, great-great grandmother, business owner, and Sunday School teacher

Visitation:  4:00-6:00 p.m. Monday, June 17, 2024 at Thompson's Harveson & Cole. 

Funeral: 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, June 18, 2024 at Thompson's Harveson & Cole. 

Interment: Laurel Land Memorial Park. 

Wanda was born on February 8, 1932 in Wade, Oklahoma, the only daughter to parents Wade and Ethel French. She graduated from Albany High School, and at 18 years old struck out on her own, leaving her small country town to start an adventure in the big city of Fort Worth, Texas. She found work as a switchboard operator, first at Bell Telephone, and later at Kimbell Milling Company where she made lifelong friends, and finally ending up at Neiman Marcus (for the employee discount!). 

Wanda soon met the love of her life, James Reese, whom she married on August 16, 1952, beginning a 48 year love story that ended only with his parting in 2001. She spent her time supporting her family and pouring into friendships. For decades, Wanda and James worked side by side as owners of Reese Custom Floor Services. She was also a Sunday School teacher to the high school girls at Woodland Heights Baptist Church, a time she remembered as one of the happiest in her life. She was a longtime member of Wedgwood Baptist Church and also supported her husband’s ministry of church-building and sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the Ukraine. Wanda and James built a wonderful life together, raising their children, running their family business, and loving the Lord through it all. 

She was preceded in death by her husband, James Reese, her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Wade French, and three brothers, Royce, L.C., and Boyce Ray.

She will be dearly missed by her daughter, Vickie Mapes and husband Mark; son, Rick Reese; son, Michael Reese and wife Judi; grandchildren, Jennifer Bradley, Holly Reese, Rick Reese, Jr. and wife Melanie, Kelly Payne and husband Aaron, Kristy Ames and husband Nick, and Jamie Reese; 11 great-grandchildren; 5 great-great-grandchildren; her sister-in-law Linda Boyd; and many beloved extended family and friends.

The family also wishes to extend their deepest gratitude to the staff at Harris Methodist and Community Healthcare of Texas, and especially the nurses in the Supportive & Palliative Care Unit. The compassion and professionalism shown by each staff member was remarkable and deeply moving.