Services for Gene Alvin Reeves, 73, of Ada are 10:59 a.m. Saturday, November 21, 2020 at the First Baptist Church in Ada, Seth Reeves will officiate. Burial will follow at Rosedale Cemetery. The Chickasaw Honor Guard will conduct military honors at the cemetery.
Mr. Reeves passed away Thursday, November 5, 2020 at a Norman hospital.
Gene Alvin Reeves was born July 3, 1947 in Oklahoma City to Jimmy Ruth Reeves of Vanoss. Having just graduated in May she felt it would be best if she gave her first born to her Uncle Robert Reeves and his young wife, Pearl Northcutt Reeves.
Mr. Reeves moved the family to Ada when Gene was in the third grade at which time he enrolled Latta Schools where he graduated from in 1965.
Mr. Reeves died when Gene was 12. Mrs. Reeves and Gene lived in Portland Park surrounded by many friends and family members that had an impact on his life.
Gene’s first job was at Ada Laundry and Linen Service for 50 cents an hour. Due to the fact that Mrs. Reeves never learned to drive and Gene was to young, he rode his trusty bike, Fred, to and from work that summer.
Lefty Leighton took an interest in Gene and got him involved in baseball. Gene being a lefty played 1st base and pitched. He played for Latta and his senior year his Latta team won the State Championship, the first ever for Latta in any sport.
Gene became a Christian during his teen years. His love for his God, his country, sports and young people lead him on quite a journey.
Serving 4 years in the USAF during the Viet Nam war, working with the youth at FBC Ada, teaching a youth Sunday School, teaching a class at Falls Creek, serving as a Deacon and as a greeter on the West Door of his beloved church where he had been a member since August 1970. His love for sports and young people was shown in his dedication of the following: coaching little league summer baseball, being an FCA director at Latta for 30 years and the voice of the Latta Panthers for 30 years.
On January 26, 1967, while serving in the USAF, he married his school sweetheart, Katie Allen. Gene served at Webb AFB in Big Springs, Texas attaining the rank of Staff Sergeant before being honorable discharged. At this time, Gene and Katie moved back to Ada where they lived and raised four of God’s children: Scot Allen, Shawn Eugene, Sarah Ruth and Seth Aaron.
Gene leaves behind his beloved his wife of 53 years, Katie; his children, Scot and Marsha, Shawn, Sarah Jackson, and Seth and Darci; grandchildren, Katilyn and Kaycee Reeves; Hayley, Grace and Mallory Reeves; Austin, Hannah, Harrison and Eden Jackson; and Cal, Kas and Mae Reeves; a brother, Dennis Grider and wife Carol, Salina, KS; sister, Janice Hamilton of Texas; as well as several loved nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews and may people he loved as family.
He was preceded in death by his birth mother, Jimmy Ruth; his birth father, Pug Garrett; his father and mother, Robert and Pearl Reeves; a daughter-in-law, Lisa Reeves; and sister, Sondra J. Garrett Garner.
Criswell Funeral Home, Ada
