Reese Shepard Thomson 1914 ~ 2006
Reese Shepard Thomson passed away peacefully Nov. 9, 2006 at the age of 91 years from causes incident to age. After 55 years of marriage he and his beloved wife Lucy are together once again. Reese was born December 6, 1914 in Richmond, Utah to Joseph Richard Thomson and Ella Jane Shepard. He married his eternal companion, Lucy Elizabeth Johnson, March 19, 1937 in the Logan Temple, Logan, Utah. Lucy preceded Reese in death May 26, 1992.
Reese left Utah in 1934 by riding the rails to California to seek employment. Times were hard and employment was not easy to come by and when Reese settled in California he had to work at many different types of employment. He worked in a CC maintenance camp, World War II shipyards, Mare Island Naval Station, Del Monte cannery and Oakland Public Schools as a gardener. He worked for 33 years keeping the large school grounds of Oakland High School well groomed and beautiful.
Reese was a faithful member of the LDS Church and served in many different capacities. He really enjoyed being a scoutmaster for many years and keeping the chapel grounds beautiful by his expertise in gardening. One of the greatest joys of his life was serving as a temple worker with Lucy in the Oakland Temple for more than 20 years. Reese loved keeping a beautiful yard and doing all kinds of gardening. His home had an abundance of flowers, fruit trees, and a great variety of plants. It looked like a Garden of Paradise. For many years he enjoyed making beautiful floral arrangements for the ward chapel. Also, he became very skilled at making canes out of natural pieces of wood. He was always involved in creative projects. He enjoyed wearing his creative homemade hats. Reese and Lucy enjoyed traveling together with their trailer to fish and enjoy the outdoors. Also, they loved taking cruises and tours to other countries.
He is survived by his children, Lorese (Bob) Brown, Steve (Betty), Ellen Graves, Maureen (George) Arleo, Dan (Connie); and two sisters-in-law, Naoma (John) Sheely and Fern (George) Day, who he helped raise as his own children after their mother passed away in 1950; and 28 grandchildren; 60 great-grand-children; three great great-grand-children. He was preceded in death by his parents; five brothers, LaVille, Verno, Irwin, Lynn, and Fay; two sisters, Enice and Gretta; and son-in-law, Paul Graves. Reese moved back to Utah in August 2004 to be near his son, Steve, in Orem. He enjoyed the opportunity to come back to roots of his birth and enjoy the beautiful Utah scenery and mountains and reminisce of his wonderful memories of childhood. Funeral services will be held Tuesday, November 14, 2006 at 11 a.m. in the LDS chapel, 365 South 900 East, Orem, Utah. Viewing will be Monday night, November 13, 2006 at Wheeler Mortuary, 211 E. 200 S. in Springville, Utah from 6-8 p.m. and then Tuesday at the church one hour prior to the funeral service. Burial will be in the Springville Evergreen Cemetery. Condolences via www.wheelermortuary.com Reese will be missed deeply by all who knew and loved him.
