Submitted by Dana Thomas


Reeder-Davis Funeral Home Inc. 

In memoriam of Reba Jane Russell, 05/29/1919 - 04/16/2008 

Reba Jane Bolton Russell, 88, left this joyful life on Wednesday, April 16,
2008, for life even more joyful in the presence of Christ and her loved ones
gone before. She was born in Shelby County, Texas, on May 25, 1919, and died
in Abilene, Texas. 

Mrs. Russell graduated from high school in Nacogdoches and received both
bachelors and masters degrees from Stephen F. Austin State University. She
loved teaching high school math and occasionally Spanish for thirty-eight
years in San Augustine, Angelina, Upshur, Gregg, and Cass counties. She
retired with her husband in 1978 after twenty-four years in the Hughes
Springs Schools. Mrs. Russell enjoyed ten years of retirement in Hughes
Springs before moving to Longview in 1988. She remained in Longview until
2005 when she moved to Abilene to be near her son and daughter-in-law. 

During her very full lifetime she was always active in a local Baptist
church, typically teaching ladies' Sunday School classes. She was a lifetime
member of the Texas State Teachers Association, the Delta Kappa Gamma
Society, and Gregg County Retired Teachers Association. She loved card and
domino games which she enjoyed at every opportunity with many, many friends.
Those friends would also tell you that she was quite a cook, famous for her
holiday dressing and caramel pies! 

Mrs. Russell was married to Harvey D. Russell, also of Shelby County, in
1941; her husband preceded her in death in 1998. She is survived by her son
and his wife, Steve and Rebecca Russell of Abilene; two grandsons and a
grand-daughter-in-law: Nathan Russell of Tyler and Joseph and Julia Russell
of Hallsville; one great grand-daughter, Jamie Abigail Russell of
Hallsville; and one niece, Anne Truitt Reese of Longview, Washington. 

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Reeder-Davis Funeral Home in
Hughes Springs and will include a celebration service and memorial at 10 am
Friday morning, April 18th, in the funeral home chapel. Because Mrs. Russell
always enjoyed wearing bright colors, the family requests that guests at her
service pay tribute to her by wearing bright colors. Private burial will be
in Oaklawn Memorial Park in Center, Texas. The family will receive friends
at the funeral home from 6-8pm, Thursday evening, April 17th. 

Please, in lieu of flowers, honor this memorable teacher by contributing to
the Hughes Springs High School Ex-Students Scholarship Association. 


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