Philip "Dean" Reason

Philip “Dean” Reason, 99, Shirley, Ind., passed away peacefully in his sleep on Wednesday morning, Jan. 14, 2026, of natural causes.

He was born June 26, 1926, at home in rural Shirley, Ind., the third oldest of four boys to Delbert “Earl” Reason and Francis Alice (Davis) Reason. He was a 1944 graduate of Wilkinson High School in Wilkinson, Ind.

He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy, serving during World War II, January 1945 to July 1946, with basic training at the Naval Training Station in Sampson, NY., then served as ships cook at the Naval Air Facility in Trenton, N.J. He was awarded the American Area Ribbon and World War II Victory Ribbon.

He attended trade school for carpentry and was a carpenter most of his life, except for several years working as a rural mail carrier for the U. S. Postal Service in Shirley, and a letter carrier in Anderson. Ind.

In 1954, he built his own home, where he and his wife, Clorie “Virginia” (Wisehart) Reason would live for the next 70 years after their wedding on Dec. 10, 1954, near Muncie, Ind. They celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary in 2024.
They raised a daughter, Betsy Reason McMillan, their only child, who would go on to have Dean and Virginia’s only granddaughter, Addie McMillan, born a month before Dean’s 80th birthday.

Dean loved to cook, and he would prepare the family meal, often recipes from his Navy cookbook, every Sunday, for as long as he was able, into his 90s. He also loved to make caramel corn and peanut butter fudge every Christmas for family and friends.
As a carpenter by trade, Dean built several homes in the Shirley and Wilkinson and surrounding area and was proud of every house he built. He loved building things and built much of the furniture for their home.

Dean donated his carpentry work in his retirement years at the historic Jane Ross Reeves Octagon House, which moved to Shirley in 1997. He celebrated his 90th birthday at the Octagon House with family and friends.
The Reasons have lived their entire lives within a mile of where they were born and raised.
In their early years of marriage, they vacationed every year in Florida, then Texas, both where Dean loved to go fishing and bring home his catch. After Betsy was born, they vacationed annually until they were unable, traveling to every state in the continental United States, plus Canada and Mexico.

Dean was preceded in death by his wife of 70 years, Clorie “Virginia” Reason, on July 23, 2025, at age 93.
They have one daughter, Betsy Reason McMillan (Charlie); and one granddaughter, Addison “Addie” McMillan, both of Noblesville.
Besides Betsy and Addie, survivors include brother, Dale Eugene Reason (Glenna); nephews, Terry Wayne Reason (Juanita) and Gaylen Delbert Reason (Kim); niece, Candy Annette (Reason) Keene; and several great and great-great nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; older brother, Delbert Charles Reason and wife, Patricia (Palmer) Reason; infant brother, Robert Wayne Reason; nephews, Gregory D. Reason and Phillip Harold Reason.

Visitation will be 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026, with funeral service at 4 p.m. at Bozell Funeral Homes and Crematory, Condo Chapel, in Wilkinson, Ind. Military rites will follow at 4:30 p.m. at the chapel. Graveside burial will be at 2 p.m. Monday, Jan. 19, 2026, at McCray Cemetery in Wilkinson.