William Merton Reece was born the son of Abraham Ward Reece and Angeline Betzer. Abram and Angeline are interred in Lower Spring Grove Cemetery. Willie's father died of a heart attack when Abram was 33. Angelina remarried to Abram's first cousin Ether Hiatt Reece and they are interred in Lower Spring Grove Cemetery. The children of Abram and Angelina are: Lillie Mae Reece Steele, Effie Annette Reece Peyton, William Milton Reece, and Maud Reece Sauer. The children of Willie and Hattie are: Lurah May Reece Metcalf, Marion Ward Reece, Vernon David Reece, Raymond Harold Reece, Marvin Arthur Reece and Louis Edwin Reece.

~0bit~William Milton Reece, 69, retired farmer, was fatally burned Monday while attempting to light an oil-burning heating stove in his house here. Mr. Reece's body was found about 6 P.M. when men roomers returned to the house. Mr. Reece had been alone, and it was not determined at what time the fatal accident took place. He is survived by his wife; a daughter, Mrs. Forrest Metcalf of near Center Point and four sons, Marion and Vernon of Cedar Rapids, Iowa and Raymond and Marvin of Winthrop, Iowa. Services will be held Wednesday at 2 P.M. in the Fawcett Funeral Home. Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery.

For a detailed biography on this subject and that of his paternal ancestry read: The Reece Family History, 2016, by Brett D. Reece, 1,148 pages. A digitized copy of this book is found at familysearch.org.

Willie died on February 18, 1952 from a fire inside his Winthrop home. He died inside his house which was located on the east side of Winthrop. My grandfather, Vernon, told me that his father Willie was so badly burned that it was a closed casket service. Willie had suffered a stroke prior to his death and certainly had difficulty attempting to escape his home.