Diane Reece, 80

Diane Kay Reece, age 80, of Kalamazoo, died Monday, April 27, 2020, at Friendship Village, where she had resided since September 2018.  She was born and raised on the family farm in Fulton, Michigan, on September 4, 1939, the daughter of Forrest and Ruth (Harrison) Snyder.  Diane was a 1958 graduate of Vicksburg High School.  On June 21, 1959, she married Ron Reece, whom she had known since they attended kindergarten together in Fulton.  He preceded her in death on October 18, 2006.  Before having children, Diane worked at the Lee Paper Mill while Ron attended Western Michigan University and then was a stay-at-home mother until her kids were older, after which she worked briefly at Three Rivers Savings and Loan.  She then worked for 21 years at Armstrong International in Three Rivers, primarily in the office and sales department.  Ron and Diane wintered in Florida at their Lake Wales home from 1996 to 2006, and she continued to winter there for several years after his death.  They were members of the Three Rivers United Methodist Church for many years.  Diane loved gardening and volunteered at Bok Tower Gardens in Lake Wales during Florida winters and at the Three Rivers Auxiliary Garden Club while in Michigan, in addition to numerous church- and community-related organizations.  She and Ron also chaired the Three Rivers Hospital Lights of Love fundraiser for 16 years.

Diane is survived by her three children, Jeff (Katie) Reece of Ann Arbor, Tammy Patterson of Portage, and Jenny (Bryan) Taffee of Portage; five grandchildren, Morgan (Ryan) Szumski of Kalamazoo, Mackenzie (Nam) Le of Portage, and Mallory (Greg) Waddell of Kalamazoo, Jordan Taffee of Portage, and Carson Taffee of Portage; three great grandchildren, Carter and Collins Szumski, and Indie Le; two sisters, Joyce Francisco of East Naples, Florida, and Vera (Chuck) Walker of Portage; five brothers-in-law, Gordon Mitchell of Fulton, Richard Portinga of Portage, Tom (Sandy) Reece of Chicago, John (Lori) Reece of Ann Arbor, and Dave (Kathy) Reece of Portage; sister-in-law, Janet Reece of Chicago; and many nieces and nephews.

In addition to her husband and parents, Diane was preceded in death by her father- and mother-in-law, Paul & Beulah Reece; brothers and sisters-in-law, Richard and Iva Snyder, Stewart and Maxine Snyder, Leslie and Rowene Snyder; brother Lee Snyder; sister Mildred (nee Snyder) Mitchell; sisters and brothers-in-law Alice (nee Snyder) and Dana Fry, Peggy (nee Snyder) Hollenbeck-Portinga and Gary Hollenbeck; and brothers-in-law, Sam Francisco and Jack Reece.

A private interment will be held at Riverside Cemetery in Three Rivers.  The family plans to host a memorial service at the Fulton Christian Church in Fulton later this year or next, whenever it is safe to do so.

Memorials are suggested to Hospice Care of Southwest Michigan (hospiceswmi.org) or Bok Tower Gardens (boktowergardens.org).

Arrangements by Hohner Funeral Home.