Joyce Reese, 75, of Pittsfield, IL and formerly of Perry, IL went to be with her Lord and Savior on October 1, 2009.  Born on May 22, 1934 in Tuscumbia, AL, she was the only child of John P.  and Delsie Agnes Walsh Plemmons.  She was united in marriage to Robert W. Reese, the only child of Charles August and Hazel Marie Six Reese on June 24, 1951 in the Beardstown Methodist Church, Beardstown, IL. He preceded her in death October 31, 2003.

Joyce lived in many southern states in her childhood, as her father worked for the Tennessee Valley Authority.  She graduated from Beardstown High School, Beardstown, IL and enjoyed meeting her classmates monthly for lunch.  She was a member of the United Methodist Church of Perry, IL for forty-eight years transferring her membership in 1997 to the Pittsfield United Methodist Church.  She served her church on the administrative board in many offices, was a Lay-Member to annual conferences, and was a Sunday school teacher, youth leader, member of the choir and The United Methodist Women.

Joyce was a life member of the Order of Rainbow for Girls and served on the advisory board, member of the Order of the Eastern Star, serving as a past matron and Daughters of the Nile.  She was a fifty-five year member of the American Legion Auxiliary and served as a past president, served a past regent of the Nancy Ross Chapter NSDAR, Member of the Rev. James Caldwell Chapter NSDAR of Jacksonville, IL., Griggsville Genealogical and Historical Society, Pittsfield Women’s Club, Abbie A. Hatch Chautauqua of Griggsville, Il., Abe Lincoln Project of Pike County, and a volunteer at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum and Library.  She was interested in genealogy and proud of her southern heritage.  She loved Pike County and promoting it through Abe Lincoln in Pike County, Illinois.  Her greatest joy was her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Her children, Charles Robert (Marilyn) Reese of Springfield, IL, Paul Christopher (Debra) Reese of Grenada, MS., Barbara Kathleen “Kathy” (John Alvin) Hoover of Pittsfield, survive her.  Also surviving are her grandchildren, Jenille Nicole Reese, Nathaniel Evan Reese, Emily Kathleen Hoover, Natalie Noel Hoover and Elijah August Hoover. Step grandchildren surviving are Nicole and Christopher Steed of Grenada, MS., Shawn (Liz) Hoover of Pittsfield, and Traci (Bobby Gene) Wood of Milton.  One great granddaughter, Marley Sophia Hoover of Pittsfield and one-step great grandson, Jagen Wood of Milton also survives.

Services will be held Sunday, October 11, at 2 p.m. at the Pittsfield United Methodist Church with Rev. Tom Wilber officiating with interment in the Wilson McCord Cemetery in Perry, IL.  Visitation will be held Saturday, October 10, from 3 p.m. until 6 p.m. at the Niebur Funeral Home in Pittsfield with an Order of the Eastern Star service at 6 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, family suggests that memorials be made to the Pittsfield or the Perry United Methodist Church.

Condolences may be sent to the family online at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .  Niebur Funeral Home in Pittsfield is handling the arrangements.