Kathleen Reese

Kathleen Elma Reese, age 90, of Moberly, MO, departed to be with Christ on December 30, 2024, at the Macon Health Care Center, where she had been a resident since breaking a hip in September 2022.

Kathleen was born in Milford Township, OH, on January 20,1934, the youngest of six children of Ira Willard Beerbower and Ardis Lorene Hootman. She graduated from Hicksville (OH) High School in 1952, and from Cincinnati Bible College & Seminary in 1956. In 1957, she moved with her husband to Moberly, MO, to help in the establishing of Central Christian College of the Bible, where she worked for 50 years.

She married Gareth L. Reese on September 2, 1956, in Hicksville, OH. Together, they had two sons, Timothy (1963) and Jonathan (1964). Kathleen’s long life involved occupying a number of notable roles:

First and foremost, Kathleen viewed herself as Gareth’s helpmeet, working alongside and supporting Gareth in his various ministries, in their work together at Central Christian College, and as an integral part of the editing and producing of the ten Bible commentaries Gareth authored on the books of the New Testament. She long ago understood the significant value of her husband’s studies, and so made sacrifices in order to be his constant encourager and supporter in that lifetime of authorship.
Kathleen loved her family. She was a devoted mom and homemaker who loved doing things as a family – be it dominoes, tennis, backyard baseball, swimming, picnics, family vacations, or family reunions. And throughout her life, she never lost connection to her extended family; it mattered intensely to her that she was a daughter, a sibling, a niece, a cousin, and an aunt within the Beerbower/Hootman family. That same family centeredness then later carried over into her time as a grandmother.
From 1956 through 2006, Kathleen managed the Bookstore at Central. In that role, she was part of the start-up of the business, and then over the next 50 years she sought to faithfully serve the college and its students, the churches in the area, and the Moberly community.
Kathleen herself was often a teacher, of several classes at Central in its early years and many Sunday school classes at Union Avenue Christian Church. For the past 10 years, she was a member of the Ethel (MO) Christian Church.
Kathleen was also a woman of prayer. In her Bible she maintained an A-Z listing of prayer topics, which she worked through during the daytime and at night when she couldn’t sleep. Whether at home or in the Bible study groups she met with, those who heard her noted the simplicity and humbleness of her prayers, but which also displayed the depth and breadth of the time she’d already spent with the Lord.

Kathleen was preceded in death by her husband, Gareth; her father and mother, Ira and Ardis (Hootman) Beerbower; by her mother-in-law, Daisy Avanelle (Metzger) Kratzer; and by her siblings and their spouses, Loring (Carol) Beerbower, Louise (Burl) Brown, Frances (Phillip) Emanuel, Herbert (Anne) Beerbower, and Dorothy (Tom) Rae.

Kathleen is survived by her children, Timothy (Kim) Reese, Springfield, MO and Jonathan (Kathy) Reese, Cedar Hill TX; by her grandchildren, Abigail (Garrett) Steinlage, Overland Park, KS, Courtney Reese, Leawood, KS, and Ian Reese, Dallas, TX; by her great-grandchildren, Reese Steinlage and Nora Steinlage; and by many devoted and faithful nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews.

A funeral service honoring Kathleen’s life is scheduled for Tuesday, January 7, 2025, at 4:00 p.m. at the Pathway-Millard Family Chapel (411 Union Ave.) in Moberly, MO. A visitation with the family will be held prior to that service from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. A private burial service in Forest Lawn Cemetery, Hicksville, OH, will be held at a later date. IN LIEU OF ALL FLOWERS, memorial donations may be sent to Central Christian College of the Bible (911 E Urbandale Dr., Moberly, MO 65270) or to the donor’s mission or missionary of choice.

The family would like to express its gratitude to the caregivers, staff, and residents of the Macon Health Care Center for the many kindnesses, friendships, and compassion offered the past two years as Kathleen finished her battle with Alzheimer’s and memory loss. And especially to Sabrina Wallace (Columbia, MO) for four years of gentle, steady, personal, faithful caregiving to the family.

One of the short, easy prayers Kathleen used to pray was this:

“Lord, enter Thou my home with me, until I enter Thine with Thee.”

There is great joy because her faith has now been made sight.

Local arrangements are under the direction of Pathway-Millard Family Funeral Chapel, 411 Union Avenue, Moberly, MO 65270 (660)263-7284. Condolences may be left online for the family at www.pathwaymemorial.com.