Viola J. Reese

Viola Jenell Pursley Reese

May 6, 1928 -- March 27, 2013

Viola Jenell Willis was born on the farm in western Dundy County, Nebraska, on May 6, 1928. She was the youngest of seven children and related her memories of the hard yet fond times she had with her family.

Viola often spoke of riding her horse to the country school at Porter, Kansas, and getting her initial education. The trips to school were cut short when she developed polio and the challenges of the disease made the commute impossible. The family moved to Benkelman, Nebraska, where she continued her schooling to the eighth grade. She missed her high school education but later in life applied herself to get a GED and took bookkeeping.

As she grew, the polio went into a remission state and she began a love for music. Her brothers, Perry and Gilbert, helped to teach her how to play a guitar and with her family and friends spent many hours entertaining the local population. She spoke of great fondness of times when her sister, Geneva and she would do a routine resembling Minnie Pearl to entertain the people of Benkleman and Haigler.

Having lived through the Depression and the dust bowl times of the thirties it would be assumed life would get lighter. Then when World War ll broke out, Viola's brother, Perry, went to active service. Perry was killed on Okinawa and never returned home.

Viola met Melvin A. Pursley after the war and the two were united in marriage on Jan. 20, 1946. They had three children, Gloria, Kayla and Jerry. After 34 years of marriage Mel passed away on June 27, 1980.

Viola met Lewis Reese in Benkelman, the two were to become husband and wife and married on Dec. 3, 1988. Viola had a new fully grown son, Scott Reese, who brought a new chapter to her life!

Lew and Vi had a new life together and lived in Denver before retiring to Wray and the "Trails End Ranch" when polio again reared it's head with post polio disease and again limiting her movements and progressive Alzheimer's disease clouding her memories.

Twenty years after their marriage, Lew passed away on June 30, 2009.

Viola was raised in a Christian home and continued her faith to the very end.

Long standing residents of Benkelman will remember Viola working at Reade's drug store, where she tended the counter and soda fountain, or at the Legion hall in the ladies auxiliary whenever functions were on, or perhaps at the Baptist church where she attended services.

Viola is preceded in death by her parents, Larson and Emma Willis; brothers, Perry, Harley and Gilbert; sisters, Lorene, Ena and Geneva; her husbands, Mel and Lew; daughter, Gloria; grandsons, Shane Anderson and Scott Turman.

She is survived by her daughter, Kayla Anderson and her family, Larry, Jessee, Isaac and Justice; her son, Jerry Pursley, and his family Becky, Amanda and her family, William, McKayla, Kadence and Tatum; Chelsey and her family Joshua, Peyton and Emmit; son, Scott Reese and wife, Krystal; and granddaughters, Diane Howard and family, Sam, Scott and Thane; Kristy LoCicero and family Jack, Heather and Amber; and Brittany Turman.

Visitation is Friday, March 29, 2013, from 1-8 p.m. at Carpenter Breland Funeral Home.

Funeral services will be Saturday, March 30, 2013, at 10:30 a.m. at Carpenter Breland Funeral Home with Johnny Walker officiating. Burial will be in the Benkelman Cemetery at 1 p.m.

Memorials may be given in her name to McCook Community Home Health and Hospice, 1301 East H St., McCook, NE 69001.

Friends may send condolences online at www.carpenterbreland.com. Carpenter Breland Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.