In Loving Memory of Jon Walter Reese: 1953-2023

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On Feb. 8, 2023, we said goodbye to our beloved father Jon at age 69. Jon passed away in his sleep surrounded by loved ones at Swedish Cherry Hill Hospital in Seattle, Washington, after suffering a stroke and battling endocarditis for a month.

Jon was born Aug. 10, 1953, in Detroit, Michigan, to the late Roberta Schlesser-Buell. Thelma and Donald Reese then adopted him and raised him and their three additional children primarily in Longview, Washington. They then moved to Adna, Washington, where Jon graduated high school in 1971.

Jon then went on to marry his high school sweetheart, Angela Stallman, in 1975 and relocated to Centralia, Washington. Together, the pair welcomed five children into this world: Justin Reese, Carolyn Reese, Adam Reese, Elizabeth Kinterknecht and Christina Reese. The pair enjoyed taking the children camping, fishing, swimming and barbecuing and having large family parties and celebrations. The pair divorced in 1994 but remained an amicable parenting unit for their children. Jon worked very hard his entire life, even working multiple jobs at a time to provide for his children. He spent several years working for Hemphill O’Neill timber, Fred Meyer distribution and driving taxis. Jon medically retired in 2008 and spent his retirement fishing, taking ocean trips, clam digging, raising cows, spending time with his children and grandchildren and being an active part of his church. He went on volunteer trips to lend aid with his church as well as spending time volunteering at the local warming shelter for the homeless in his community. Jon was also an avid blood donor reaching a full 16 gallons for his lifetime. Jon had a beautifully warm and selfless soul and was always a dependable rock.

In addition to his five children and many grandchildren, he is survived by his blended family, including siblings, Louise Johnson, Gloria Mckinney, Warner Buell, Kevin Buell and Wanece Holt, as well as his longtime companion Donna Mcswain. Jon is preceded in death by his mother, Roberta Buell; mother, Thelma Reese; father, Donald Reese; brother, Paul Reese; as well as the mother of his children, Angela Reese.

Services will be held at 1 p.m. Sunday, March 12, 2023, at Bethel Church, located at 132 Kirkland Road, Chehalis.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to your local homeless shelter on behalf of Jon.

As Jon would say, “Always remember, Jesus loves you and so do I.”