September 18, 1930 – July 25, 2023
Our sweet and precious Mom and Meme is with Jesus, her Lord, and Saviour. She passed peacefully
with her family by her side at Bliss Place/Cedar Creek on Tuesday, July 25, 2023.
She leaves us with beautiful memories of her lifelong kindness, generous and tender spirit, rich alto voice, the joy she had for anything that sparkled, and the double joy she had for her family.
Reba was born in Russellville, Arkansas on the family farm where, in addition to picking cotton well before she was a teen, she loved to sing. She and her baby sister, Faith, walked to school and crossed a scary bridge while singing, “O Lord, Don’t Let Nothing Happen to Me.” While graduating from high school and attending Arkansas Tech College, she became known as the “Songbird of the South” and sang on the radio every Sunday with the Arkansas Valley Five.
She and her husband, Jim, moved to Wichita, Kansas, and started their family as they welcomed another songbird, daughter, Melody into their arms. Reba worked at First National Bank in downtown Wichita where her organizational and people skills soon promoted her to banking administration where she served for forty years.
She and Jim served as Music Directors at Evangel Assembly of God where she also taught little ones in Sunday School. One of her special delights was when she, Melody, and Jim would harmonize in song for church and frequent nursing homes to sing while she played her accordion.
When they retired from work and music ministry, the church honored them with a baby grand piano that graced their home with Jim’s playing and their singing for years. When they moved to senior living they took the piano with them and donated it to Bliss Place so that beautiful, worship music would fill the dining area.
Thrifty, frugal, and consummate bargain hunter, Reba was well known at JoAnn Fabric where she purchased skeins of yarn by the trunk load (on sale, of course). She loved crocheting and made afghans
for babies and adults and donated scores of them to churches and organizations.
Reba is survived by her beloved daughter, Melody (Denny) Turner; grandchildren, Austin James Malone, Needmore, IN; Monica (Hal) Kirkwood, Oxford, UK; Erich (Anne) Turner, Charlottesville, VA; great-grandchildren-Elle and Finn Malone, Garrett, and Kenzie Kirkwood.
She is also survived by many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Walter and Addie Smith, and siblings Violet Ruth, Virgil, Mary,
Opal, Luke, and Faith.
Her memorial service will be conducted at 1 p.m. on Saturday, August 5, 2023, at Day and Carter Funeral
Home and officiated by Pastor David Wigington and Pastor Gary Thomas. Burial will follow at Hilltop
Cemetery in Avoca. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. until the time of service on Saturday, August 5.
Friends and family may express condolences at www.daycarter.com.
