David D. Reese, III, Rev

David D. Reese, III, Rev.

David D. Reese, III was born on September 14, 1929 in Leesville, Louisiana. He attended public schools in De Queen, Arkansas and graduated from high school in 1947. He was proud of being an Eagle Scout. His first job was with the De Queen Bee newspaper.

David attended the University of Oklahoma, majoring in journalism. He answered the call to the ministry and graduated from Phillips Seminary, Enid, Oklahoma in 1955.

Rev. Reese served Disciples of Christ churches in central Oklahoma for nearly ten years before accepting a position as a campus minister at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana. There he counseled young adults, rallied for peace in Vietnam, participated in the civil rights movement and generally strengthened his conviction that the church's role in history is to put the Word of Jesus Christ into action and to be an agent for social justice in the world.

In 1971, Rev. Reese and his family joined the Ecumenical Institute (now the Institute of Cultural Affairs-I.C.A.) and moved to the inner city of Cleveland, Ohio where they lived, worshiped and worked in community with several other families.

Rev. Reese and his wife, Joyce Reese lived and worked as part of the ICA in many other cities including Denver, San Jose, Chicago, Orlando, Fukuoka and Toyko.

In the mid-nineties Rev. Reese and his wife retired from the ICA and moved to Chickasha to live near his mother-in-law, Lottie Slusher. David and Joyce had a special group of friends with whom they met on a yearly basis for spiritual renewal.

Reverend David D. Reese died on the morning of Monday, October 9th, 2006 after an extended illness. He had been receiving loving care from his family supported by hospice services since April of this year.

Survivors include his mother-in-law, Lottie Slusher; sisters: Dixie Cryan and Jimmie Hutchinson; children: Virginia Savage, John David Reese, Shelley Annette Beard, and Elizabeth Ann Carr; grandchildren: Cristina Cathey, Kasey Carr, Grace Beard, Teri Carr, Johnathan Carr, David Beard and Joy Beard; great grandchildren Megan and Erick Parkhurst.

He was preceded in death by his spouse Joyce Joan Slusher Reese; twin sister: Dorothy D. Reese; and his parents: Ona Rawls Reese and David D. Reese, II.

The memorial service will be held on Saturday, October 21st, at 11 a.m. at the First Christian Church of Chickasha on 6th Street. The cremains will be interred following the service at Rose Hill Cemetery in Chickasha on 11th Street and Alabama Avenue.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Peace House at 2912 N. Robinson, Oklahoma City, OK 73102; to the Music Fund of the Mayflower Congregational Church at 3901 NW 63rd Expressway, Oklahoma City, OK 73112; or to OETA, 7403 North Kelley Avenue, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73111.