Eleanor Reese

1939 - 2015

Eleanor H. Reese

Kanab, Utah

Eleanor Heaton Reese passed away peacefully at her home on Friday, February 6, 2015 after an emotional battle with cancer. She was born January 15, 1939 in Kanab, Utah to LeGrande C. and Arvilla Jorgensen Heaton. Siblings include Fred, Jay, Maryliss, and Chad Heaton. She loved her younger years, growing up surrounded by special cousins in Orderville. She was very proud of her heritage of valiant ancestors who settled Southern Utah.

She attended school in Valley and was involved in many activities. One she like to talk about was being majorette of the high school band. She graduated in 1957 from VHS. After a snowball incident her Senior year with "one of those Mt. Carmel boys" she started dating Laurence K Reese and they were never far apart after that.

Laurence and Ellie were sealed in the St. George temple on August 9, 1957 and made their first home in Orderville. In 1970, they moved their family to Kanab and it became their new home. Ellie became very involved in community, school and church activities. She was a devoted mother to her three children and loved to be involved in what they were doing. She had always wanted a large family, but because she was unable to have more children, she gathered friends along the way that became family.

Laurence and Ellie were a big part of the community, at one time owning 5 businesses in the area and employing over 55 people. She loved so many of the employees and customers they associated with through the years.

Ellie loved a fun party! She planned and organized countless activities for ward, community and friends. She would freely give of their home, pool and favorite spot at their homestead. She valued all those she came to love & made sure they all kept close.

She was an amazing mother, but her greatest joy was to be a grandma to 11 and great grandma to 2. Through the years, she "adopted" the grandkids' friends through sleep overs, pool parties, waffles, cook outs and grandma lunches. Her and Laurence truly loved them all.

Her deepest loss was the death of her oldest son, Larry Scott, in 1976. That taught her a compassion for others who lost children of their own, and she would naturally seek them out and comfort them.

We are comforted to know that Ellie is now reunited with Larry Scott and so many other fmaily members & dear friends.

She is survived by husband, Laurence K Reese; children, Randy (DiAnn) Reese and Rinda (Alan) Alldredge. Grandkids include: Andy (Kenzie), Garrett (Darcie), LaRisa, Matthew and Russell Alldredge. Brandon (Rachel), Autumn (Neil), Heather, Morgan (Dallin), Hyrum and Josh Reese. Great grands Tatum and Paislee Alldredge.

The family would like to express our deepest thanks to all the community and family who have helped us over the past few months during mom's illness. So many prayers, cards, meals and kind words. The love and memories shared have carried us through and will continue to comfort us.

A viewing will be held Friday, February 13th at Mosdell Mortuary from 6 to 7 pm. Services will be held in the Kanab South Chapel on Saturday, February 14, 2015. Viewing form 10 to 11:45 am with the funeral at 12 Noon.