Helen Reece

Helen Jo Reece, age 66, of Osceola, Missouri passed away Monday November 23, 2009, at St. John's Hospital in Springfield, Missouri. She was born on March 22, 1943, in Wichita, Kansas to Hazel and Beulah Merriman Dirse. She spent her childhood years in Wichita with her parents, three sisters and two brothers. She graduated form East High School in 1961. While visiting family in LaCygne, Kansas she met, fell in love with and on December 22, 1962 she married Howard Lin Reece. To this union two children were born. After they were married they lived in Kansas City, Missouri until May of 1968. At that time they purchased from his parents the farm on which Howard was born and lived there until 1980. While living on the farm Jo pursued and obtained her Associates degree from Fort Scott Community College in 1978 and went on to earn her Bachelor's degree in Education/Journalism form Ottawa University in Ottawa, Kansas in 1980. In 1980 they moved to Osceola, Missouri where Jo was an English/Journalism teacher at Lakeland High School in Deepwater, Missouri until 1985. Jo pursued many careers throughout the years, homemaker, Avon lady, secretary, teacher, Mary Kay lady, Premier Design's jeweler, Lowry City City Clerk. But her most prized titles were mom and grandma. Jo was a member of Valley Center United Church of Christ at Lowry City. She was a founding member of Alpha Beta Nu chapter of Beta Sigma Phi. Jo loved to sew, quilt, bake and travel to see her grandkids. Jo is survived by two children, her son Dan Reece and Donna Lee of Osceola, Missouri and daughter Molly McCollum and her Husband Rocky of Colorado Spring, Colorado. Four beloved grandchildren, Rocky McCollum Jr. and his wife Jamie, Cooper, Mackenzie, and Madelyn McCollum all of Colorado Springs, Colorado. Three sisters and two brothers, Jan and Tim Miles, Augusta, Kansas, Jackie and Wiley Ash, Andover, Kansas, John Merriman, Neosho, Missouri , Debbie Patton, Granby, Missouri, and Randy Merriman, Wichita, Kansas. Jo also leaves Howard's sisters Eva and Paul Arnett, Eagan, Minnesota, Mary and Dale Milton, Amarillo, Texas, Carol and Marvin Creager, Fort Scott, Kansas. She leaves behind many other relatives and lots of dear friends. Her husband of thirty-five years, Howard, preceded her in death. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM Friday November 27, 2009 at the Valley Center United Church of Christ. Visitation will be held from 1:00 PM to service time at the Church. Graveside services will be at 10:00 AM Saturday November 28, 2009 at the Star Valley Cemetery, rural LaCygne, Kansas. Family and friends will gather at 9:00 AM at the Coffel-Schneider Funeral Home 202 N. 4th LaCygne, Kansas. The family suggests contributions to a charity of ones choice. Online Condolences may be left for the family at www.coffelschneider.com. Arrangements: Coffel-Schneider Funeral Home LaCygne, Kansas.