The Reeves Registry

I was sad to learn of the death of Dr. Johnie Lee Reeves on April 26, 2009. Dr. Reeves was a member of our Reeves DNA project and an avid Genealogist. I had the pleasure of corresponding with Dr. Reeves several times over the last few years and will miss our exchanges. I would like to extend my deepest sympathies to his family and friends. The details of his obituary follow below.

Johnie Lee Reeves, Col. USAF (Ret.), 83, died on April 26, 2009 in Austin, Texas. He was born on August 14, 1925 in Austin to John Thomas Reeves and Maggie Lee Whitaker. He was reared in the Austin area by his mother and stepfather, James Samuel Jones, Sr. He served in the U.S. Army Air Corps in WWII following graduation from Austin High School and was honorably discharged as an Aviation Cadet at war's end. He and Marilyn D. Taylor of Austin, daughter of Joseph Brown Taylor and Tiny Drury Taylor, were married at the San Antonio Aviation Cadet Center on April 24, 1945. He received a doctorate degree in veterinary medicine from Texas A&M in 1950 and practiced briefly in Sweetwater, Texas, before being called back to active duty in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War. He later received masters and doctoral degrees from the University of Minnesota where he studied physiology and physiological chemistry.

Dr. Reeves served as veterinarian and public health officer at Tinker AFB, Oklahoma and Holloman AFB, New Mexico; as laboratory veterinary officer at the Aeromedical Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, as laboratory research officer and instructor at the School of Aviation Medicine, San Antonio, and taught briefly at the USAF Academy, Colorado. Dr. Reeves served as Director of the Physiological Chemistry Division of the School of Aerospace Medicine, San Antonio and as a staff officer in the Medical Directorate, HQ. USAF Systems Command, Andrews AFB, Maryland. Col. Reeves served as staff officer and deputy to the Assistant Surgeon General for Veterinary Services, Office of the Surgeon General, HQ. USAF, Washington, D.C. After serving at the School of Aerospace Medicine, Brooks AFB, San Antonio as the Chief of Veterinary Services and having served for over 30 years, he retired in 1975.

He and his beloved Marilyn returned to their home city of Austin, where they re-established many friendships to live out their final years. During his retirement Dr. Reeves spent his time researching and writing about the genealogy of his family. Mrs. Reeves continues to reside in Austin.

Their two children were born in the period he attended Texas A&M. His daughter Jamie Lyn and her husband, Eric Chandler "Ric" Griffiths, Jr. of Peachtree City, GA and son, Dr. Lee Reeves and his wife, Nina of McKinney, TX also survive him. Other survivors include four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. In addition, he is survived by a brother, James S. “Jim” Jones, Jr. and his wife, Ruth of Austin, and a sister, Peggy Jean Grona and her husband, Floyd of Ft. Worth, TX and many nieces, nephews, other family members and friends.

A Memorial Service will be held on Thursday, April 30, 2009 at 2:00 PM at Cook Walden Chapel of the Hills Funeral Home in Austin. He requested that any intended floral offerings be reconsidered, and funds be used instead as a contribution to the Austin Community Foundation or a needy charity of your choosing.

“I'd like the memory of me
To be a happy one –
I'd like to leave an afterglow
Of smiles when life is done.
I'd like to leave an echo,
Whispering down the way-
Of happy times and laughing times,
Of bright and sunny days.
I'd like the tears of those who grieve
To dry before the sun
With happy memories that I leave,
When life is done.” ~ Author Unknown

Arrangements under the direction of Cook-Walden Chapel of the Hills Funeral Home, 9700 Anderson Mill Road, Austin, TX 78750 (512) 335-1155.