Betty Joy Reese

BETTY JOY REESE

Betty Joy Chumley was born to Charles Ephraim Chumley and Alethea Faye (Essig) Chumley on July 3, 1930 in Englewood, Colorado, the last of seven children born to this union. She passed from this life into eternity with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on October 19, 2022 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma at the age of 92 years, 3 months and 16 days.

She was preceded in death by her siblings: a sister - Velda Marie "Sissy" Martin, and five brothers – Ralph Jennings Chumley, Charles Edward "Junior" Chumley, Billie Arthur Chumley, Merl Ray Chumley at three years of age, and Silas Eugene "S.E." Chumley. Her loving husband of over 62 years, Grady Lee Reese, passed away on May 20, 2011.

Betty Joy is survived by her three daughters and their husbands: Alethea Gay and Terry Danley of Edmond, Oklahoma, Peggy Joy and David Baker of Sheboygan, Wisconsin, and Rebecca Lea and Kevin Cavasos of Summit, South Dakota. Grandchildren and their spouses include Thomas and Stephanie Danley, Rachel and Jeremy Rutt, Miranda and Scott Schroeder, Daniel and Amber Baker, Erin Baker, Tara and John McClendon, Lavina and Ethan Sanders, and Nikki and Jim Lamers. Additionally, there remain eleven great-grandchildren and two great-great-granddaughters, all of whom will miss their grandma, Grams and GGMama.

Betty graduated from Abilene Christian High School, attended Abilene Christian College for a time, and took additional classes later in life from Colorado University.

On September 5, 1948 she married Grady Lee Reese, a fun-loving Navy veteran, skilled at doing cartwheels on roller skates, and a devout Christian man. Together over those 60+ years they served numerous churches in ministry and leadership roles. They, along with others, started at least three Churches of Christ in the metro Denver area, with Grady's steady and calming hand as an elder for several decades at 81st Avenue Church of Christ, Broomfield Church of Christ, and Northwest Church of Christ. For her part, Betty was the gracious hostess, mostly but not always quiet spouse, and Bible class teacher. She and Grady visited the sick, comforted the grieving, counseled the troubled, and taught the gospel to the lost and searching whenever possible. In her later years, Betty Joy was a key worker in keeping the Bible Class Resource Room organized, stocked and ready to serve the needs of teachers. She also graded correspondence courses for interested Bible students worldwide. She and Grady exemplified a life together of faithfulness, tireless service, good humor, and spirited repartee.

Until failing strength limited her, she was a faithful and engaged attender of all worship services and many activities at her home congregation. When the great Covid lockdown hit and she was confined by government mandate to her small senior living apartment, and when she had had enough, she consulted with her kids and on short notice they rented an RV in Edmond, Oklahoma, picked her up along with her possessions, and moved her to Edmond where she lived with Gay and Terry until her passing two weeks ago. During her time there, after Oklahoma lifted their restrictions, she enjoyed regular worship at the Church of Christ at Oakdale. They went together to a small group study where she was thrilled to see and love on the small children who came with their parents. She admitted that it was hard to concentrate on the adult discussion when those sweet little ones were providing their own entertainment!
Although her last days had their share of physical suffering, she rarely missed a day of reading her morning devotionals and reading the scriptures suggested within them. As always, she took copious notes on sermons, classes and personal meditations, always seemingly hungry for more and for a closer walk with the Lord.

She will be missed here, but she now is at home with the Lord, as she often said was her goal.