Howard Verlon Reece, Sr.

Howard Verlon Reece, Sr., 82, of 12 Walker Ridge Road, Candler, died Wednesday, July 28, 2004, at the VA Medical Center. Born in Haywood County and raised in Madison County, he was a son of the late Jonah and Ethel Ball Reece. He was also preceded in death by two sisters, Evelyn Hampton and Mable Childers and by a brother, Foy Reese. Mr. Reece was a US Army veteran of WWII where he served in the European Theater (ETO) and received a Purple Heart. He spent most of his life in Buncombe County and worked as a meat cutter for Farmer’s Federation, Asheville Packing and BiLo. He was a lifetime member of the DAV and VFW and a member of Walnut Creek Baptist Church. Survivors include a daughter, Carolyn Sprouse of Leicester; four sons, Gary Reece of Candler, Howard “Butch” Reece, Jr. and his wife Joyce of Asheville; James “Eddie” Reece and his wife Wanda of Asheville, Robert “Bobby” Reece and his wife Virginia of Asheville; two sisters, Katherine Rice of Candler and Pearl Jefferson of TN; a brother, Coy Reese of Candler; former wife and friend, Myrtle Murrell of Asheville; ten grandchildren; fifteen great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be 12:00 Noon Friday at the Western Carolina State Veterans Cemetery Chapel with the Reverend Michael Funderburk officiating. His family will receive friends from 7:00-8:30 pm Thursday at Groce Funeral Home on Patton Avenue.