Roy Gene Reavis' Obituary
Lifetime Welch resident, Roy Gene Reavis, 90, left this life for his Heavenly home Thursday morning March 20th, 2014.
Roy was born Feb 11th, 1924, 2 miles South of Welch, OK in the family home. His mother, Ethyl (Jameson-Reavis) Hartsock and Father Earl Troy Reavis made their home in Welch. Four younger siblings, Marie (Shawnee), Eldon, Reynolds, and Earlene were born into the family prior to a mining accident which disabled and soon caused Earl's death. Roy attended Welch Public Schools until necessity forced him to find full-time work to help with family finances.
He joined World War II at age 19. His training was at Fort Knox, Tennessee as an amphibious tractor driver. He was deployed to the Pacific Theater initially in New Guinea, then throughout Southeast Asia and the Western Pacific. He returned to Welch in 1945 and never left the Welch area again.
He married Iona Oney on November 1st, 1947. He began working at the B. F. Goodrich plant the same year. In 1954, they purchased a home with a small acreage at 385 North Springfield, just North of Welch, where they have lived ever since.
Roy accepted Christ as Lord and Savior and was baptized in a creek West of Welch. He joined and remained active in Welch Baptist Church throughout his entire life. His favorite hobbies were fishing and gardening.
Roy is survived by his wife, Iona of the home, four children; Dexter Reavis and Christyn Stumps of Gretna, Ne, Troy and Cathy Reavis of The Woodlands, TX, Roger and Barbara Reavis of Bartlesville, OK, and Janee and Andy Millarr of rural Craig County.
Grandchildren are Kelly Reavis and wife Traci of Allen, TX, Ashley Benford and husband Kyle of Joplin, MO, Troy Reavis, and wife Jen of Charlottesville, NC, Lauren Wiley and husband Kendall of Stillwater, OK, Colin Reavis of The Woodlands, TX, Brandon Reavis and wife Sarah of Stillwater, OK, Clinton Reavis and wife Marti of Moore, OK, Lindsay James of Moore, OK, Whitney Hill and husband Justin of Edmond, OK, Trevor James and Carley Schrick of Edmond, OK, Andrea Baker and husband Jay of Ketchum, OK.
Great Grandchildren are Hallee Hance and Liam Benford, Cooper and Kaylen Wiley, Amy, Grant and Norah Reavis, and Lorelei Hill. He was preceded in death by his Father and Mother, all his siblings, and numerous relatives, in-laws and friends.
The family will host visitation at the Thomas' Funeral Home on Sunday March 23rd, 2014 from 5-7 PM. Services will be held Monday, March 24th at 1:00pm in the Welch Baptist Church in Welch, OK. Interment will be in Welch's Cemetery.Pallbearers will be Kelly Reavis, Colin Reavis, Brandon Reavis, Clinton Reavis, Treavor James, Justin Hill, Kyle Benford, Troy Reavis and Kendall Wiley. Honorary pallbearers will be Bill Burgess, Bill Lester, Dewayne Wallace, Jerry Spalding, Wallace Allen, Duayne Gamble, Bill Windle, and Lonnie Miller.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Welch Baptist Church or The Cancer Society.
What’s your fondest memory of Roy?
What’s a lesson you learned from Roy?
Share a story where Roy's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Roy you’ll never forget.
How did Roy make you smile?