Harold Lee Reaves, 89, of Oak Grove, MO died peacefully at home on May 14, 2018. Harold was born on July 20, 1928 in Lamar, MO to May Yancey (Crockett) and William Ray Reaves. He was the fourth oldest of six children. He was preceded in death by his mother and father, brother Winford (Alma) Reaves, sisters Mary (John) Hawks and Reba (Cliff) Driskell, daughter Shirley Ford and granddaughter Nickie Rees.
He lived in Lamar, MO as a farmer when he married Maxine (Staley) and raised 5 children, Linda Nieweg, Sandra Mitchell, Harold W. Reaves, Debbie Thilking and Claude Reaves. He moved from Lamar in 1959 to Buckner, MO where he was employed at Armco Steel until his retirement in 1988. He lost Maxine to cancer in 1972 and married Betty (Florence) in 1975. They celebrated 43 wonderful years together in February. Betty brought 3 children into the marriage, Pam Christensen, Shirley Ford (decd) and Loretta Perry. Their union produced a daughter, Michelle Jones.
In the mid 1980’s, Harold and Betty moved to Napoleon, MO where they started an antique shop named Ma & Pa’s Riverview Antiques. Harold also served two terms as the Mayor of Napoleon. He was very active in his community and was involved in various activities including the Lions Club and helping raise funds for street lights. He created an annual event named the Spring Fling to raise money for the first fire engine in Napoleon as well as the creation of a City Hall for the town. Throughout his life, he enjoyed fishing, playing cards, mushroom hunting and spending time with family and friends. Harold’s passion for auctions led him to be an auctioneer for many years throughout the area until he retired from auctioning at the age of 75.
He is survived by his wife Betty Reaves of the home; eight children- Linda (Gary) Nieweg of Napoleon, MO, Harold Wayne Reaves of Lexington, MO, Sandra (Lightning) Mitchell of Independence, MO, Debbie (Harold) Thilking of Napoleon, MO, Claude Reaves of Independence, MO, Pam Christensen of Philadelphia, PA, Loretta (Dale) Perry of Raytown, MO and Michelle (Randy) Jones of Wellington, MO; brother Merl (Mack) Reaves of Warsaw, MO and Joyce (Irvin) Ryan of Independence, MO; twenty-two grandchildren - Jennifer Bane, Michael Nieweg, Connie Okorn, Tim McIntire, Amy Fouse, Angela Dutton, Roy Scott, Danielle Reaves, Ryan Reaves, Chris Christensen, Shelly Thilking, Daniel Thilking, Bradley Reaves, Christina Dryden, Gordon Rees, Nickie Rees(decd), Amanda Randolph, Ambrosia Lane, Cynthia Shroyer, Joshua Brown, Kaitlyn Jones and Nathan Jones; 38- great grandchildren and 6 great-great grandchildren.
Visitation will be 5:00-8:00 p.m., Thursday, May 17, 2018 at St. Paul Church at 205 Hill St. Napoleon, MO. The memorial service will be held at the St. Paul Church on Friday, May 18, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. Dinner will be served following graveside service.
He lived in Lamar, MO as a farmer when he married Maxine (Staley) and raised 5 children, Linda Nieweg, Sandra Mitchell, Harold W. Reaves, Debbie Thilking and Claude Reaves. He moved from Lamar in 1959 to Buckner, MO where he was employed at Armco Steel until his retirement in 1988. He lost Maxine to cancer in 1972 and married Betty (Florence) in 1975. They celebrated 43 wonderful years together in February. Betty brought 3 children into the marriage, Pam Christensen, Shirley Ford (decd) and Loretta Perry. Their union produced a daughter, Michelle Jones.
In the mid 1980’s, Harold and Betty moved to Napoleon, MO where they started an antique shop named Ma & Pa’s Riverview Antiques. Harold also served two terms as the Mayor of Napoleon. He was very active in his community and was involved in various activities including the Lions Club and helping raise funds for street lights. He created an annual event named the Spring Fling to raise money for the first fire engine in Napoleon as well as the creation of a City Hall for the town. Throughout his life, he enjoyed fishing, playing cards, mushroom hunting and spending time with family and friends. Harold’s passion for auctions led him to be an auctioneer for many years throughout the area until he retired from auctioning at the age of 75.
He is survived by his wife Betty Reaves of the home; eight children- Linda (Gary) Nieweg of Napoleon, MO, Harold Wayne Reaves of Lexington, MO, Sandra (Lightning) Mitchell of Independence, MO, Debbie (Harold) Thilking of Napoleon, MO, Claude Reaves of Independence, MO, Pam Christensen of Philadelphia, PA, Loretta (Dale) Perry of Raytown, MO and Michelle (Randy) Jones of Wellington, MO; brother Merl (Mack) Reaves of Warsaw, MO and Joyce (Irvin) Ryan of Independence, MO; twenty-two grandchildren - Jennifer Bane, Michael Nieweg, Connie Okorn, Tim McIntire, Amy Fouse, Angela Dutton, Roy Scott, Danielle Reaves, Ryan Reaves, Chris Christensen, Shelly Thilking, Daniel Thilking, Bradley Reaves, Christina Dryden, Gordon Rees, Nickie Rees(decd), Amanda Randolph, Ambrosia Lane, Cynthia Shroyer, Joshua Brown, Kaitlyn Jones and Nathan Jones; 38- great grandchildren and 6 great-great grandchildren.
Visitation will be 5:00-8:00 p.m., Thursday, May 17, 2018 at St. Paul Church at 205 Hill St. Napoleon, MO. The memorial service will be held at the St. Paul Church on Friday, May 18, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. Dinner will be served following graveside service.
Harold Lee Reaves, 89, of Oak Grove, MO died peacefully at home on May 14, 2018. Harold was born on July 20, 1928 in Lamar, MO to May Yancey (Crockett) and William Ray Reaves. He was the fourth oldest of six children. He was preceded in death by his mother and father, brother Winford (Alma) Reaves, sisters Mary (John) Hawks and Reba (Cliff) Driskell, daughter Shirley Ford and granddaughter Nickie Rees.
He lived in Lamar, MO as a farmer when he married Maxine (Staley) and raised 5 children, Linda Nieweg, Sandra Mitchell, Harold W. Reaves, Debbie Thilking and Claude Reaves. He moved from Lamar in 1959 to Buckner, MO where he was employed at Armco Steel until his retirement in 1988. He lost Maxine to cancer in 1972 and married Betty (Florence) in 1975. They celebrated 43 wonderful years together in February. Betty brought 3 children into the marriage, Pam Christensen, Shirley Ford (decd) and Loretta Perry. Their union produced a daughter, Michelle Jones.
In the mid 1980’s, Harold and Betty moved to Napoleon, MO where they started an antique shop named Ma & Pa’s Riverview Antiques. Harold also served two terms as the Mayor of Napoleon. He was very active in his community and was involved in various activities including the Lions Club and helping raise funds for street lights. He created an annual event named the Spring Fling to raise money for the first fire engine in Napoleon as well as the creation of a City Hall for the town. Throughout his life, he enjoyed fishing, playing cards, mushroom hunting and spending time with family and friends. Harold’s passion for auctions led him to be an auctioneer for many years throughout the area until he retired from auctioning at the age of 75.
He is survived by his wife Betty Reaves of the home; eight children- Linda (Gary) Nieweg of Napoleon, MO, Harold Wayne Reaves of Lexington, MO, Sandra (Lightning) Mitchell of Independence, MO, Debbie (Harold) Thilking of Napoleon, MO, Claude Reaves of Independence, MO, Pam Christensen of Philadelphia, PA, Loretta (Dale) Perry of Raytown, MO and Michelle (Randy) Jones of Wellington, MO; brother Merl (Mack) Reaves of Warsaw, MO and Joyce (Irvin) Ryan of Independence, MO; twenty-two grandchildren - Jennifer Bane, Michael Nieweg, Connie Okorn, Tim McIntire, Amy Fouse, Angela Dutton, Roy Scott, Danielle Reaves, Ryan Reaves, Chris Christensen, Shelly Thilking, Daniel Thilking, Bradley Reaves, Christina Dryden, Gordon Rees, Nickie Rees(decd), Amanda Randolph, Ambrosia Lane, Cynthia Shroyer, Joshua Brown, Kaitlyn Jones and Nathan Jones; 38- great grandchildren and 6 great-great grandchildren.
Visitation will be 5:00-8:00 p.m., Thursday, May 17, 2018 at St. Paul Church at 205 Hill St. Napoleon, MO. The memorial service will be held at the St. Paul Church on Friday, May 18, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. Dinner will be served following graveside service.
He lived in Lamar, MO as a farmer when he married Maxine (Staley) and raised 5 children, Linda Nieweg, Sandra Mitchell, Harold W. Reaves, Debbie Thilking and Claude Reaves. He moved from Lamar in 1959 to Buckner, MO where he was employed at Armco Steel until his retirement in 1988. He lost Maxine to cancer in 1972 and married Betty (Florence) in 1975. They celebrated 43 wonderful years together in February. Betty brought 3 children into the marriage, Pam Christensen, Shirley Ford (decd) and Loretta Perry. Their union produced a daughter, Michelle Jones.
In the mid 1980’s, Harold and Betty moved to Napoleon, MO where they started an antique shop named Ma & Pa’s Riverview Antiques. Harold also served two terms as the Mayor of Napoleon. He was very active in his community and was involved in various activities including the Lions Club and helping raise funds for street lights. He created an annual event named the Spring Fling to raise money for the first fire engine in Napoleon as well as the creation of a City Hall for the town. Throughout his life, he enjoyed fishing, playing cards, mushroom hunting and spending time with family and friends. Harold’s passion for auctions led him to be an auctioneer for many years throughout the area until he retired from auctioning at the age of 75.
He is survived by his wife Betty Reaves of the home; eight children- Linda (Gary) Nieweg of Napoleon, MO, Harold Wayne Reaves of Lexington, MO, Sandra (Lightning) Mitchell of Independence, MO, Debbie (Harold) Thilking of Napoleon, MO, Claude Reaves of Independence, MO, Pam Christensen of Philadelphia, PA, Loretta (Dale) Perry of Raytown, MO and Michelle (Randy) Jones of Wellington, MO; brother Merl (Mack) Reaves of Warsaw, MO and Joyce (Irvin) Ryan of Independence, MO; twenty-two grandchildren - Jennifer Bane, Michael Nieweg, Connie Okorn, Tim McIntire, Amy Fouse, Angela Dutton, Roy Scott, Danielle Reaves, Ryan Reaves, Chris Christensen, Shelly Thilking, Daniel Thilking, Bradley Reaves, Christina Dryden, Gordon Rees, Nickie Rees(decd), Amanda Randolph, Ambrosia Lane, Cynthia Shroyer, Joshua Brown, Kaitlyn Jones and Nathan Jones; 38- great grandchildren and 6 great-great grandchildren.
Visitation will be 5:00-8:00 p.m., Thursday, May 17, 2018 at St. Paul Church at 205 Hill St. Napoleon, MO. The memorial service will be held at the St. Paul Church on Friday, May 18, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. Dinner will be served following graveside service.
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