Ermaline Reese

Ermaline H. Reese departed this life on Monday, September 15, in Cox South Hospital, after battling failing health for the past year.

Ermaline was born October 11, 1925, to John and Lessie Holder in Walnut Ridge, Ark., the family soon moved to Missouri.

She was preceded in death by her parents; and by her daughter, Susie.

She is survived by three daughters, Pat Burgess and Lynn Resse of Springfield, and Sheryl White of Cabool; three grandchildren, Ashley White, Aaron Bedell and Amy Bedell, all of Springfield; and two great-grandchildren.

Ermaline, "Ermie", as she was called by her friends, took great pleasuer in life. She laughed easily and loved her family and friends deeply. For several years she was many people's favorite server at the historic Shady Inn, before she left there to work at (then) Lily Tulip. She retired from Lily and worked briefly for Oxford Home Care, before truly retiring, but she remained active. She was an avid lover of animals and worked tirelessly against their mistreatment. During her lifetime she rescued a large number of animals in danger. She always has a cat that was truly part of her family, and she sometimes got into verbal scrimmages when she perceived abuse. Perhaps most dear to her heart were the horses. She knew and loved horses, was an accomplished rider and sought to spend time with horses whenever she could. Ermie had a life-long love of music. She could tell stories of the great singers and bands she had seen and admired. Her taste in music was eclectic, but she never tired of the blues. She was a wonderful dancer and moving around the dance floor gave her real happiness. Her friends sometimes, teasingly, called her "Ermaline the Dancing Queen." In her early adult life, she met with adversity and overcame it, and she always pressed forward to make things better.

Ermaline has chosen to be cremated with no formal services. Her friends and family will gather at a later date to celebrate her life. She will be greatly missed by those who know and loved her, and while no one wanted to see her go, we all know that she has felt the flutter of angels with wings, and she now lies in peace to take her rest.