Funeral services for Mrs. Monsie Crawford Reeves, age 98 of Carthage, Texas, will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 24, 2008 at Jimerson-Lipsey Funeral Home Chapel with Reverend Paul Thomasson and Reverend Macky Buchanan officiating. Interment will follow in Oddfellows Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. on Friday at the funeral home. Mrs. Reeves passed away on Wednesday evening, May 21, 2008 in Carthage.

Monsie Crawford Reeves was born on May 21, 1910 in Beckville, Texas to James Craddick and Senah Daniels Crawford. She graduated from Beckville High School with the class of 1927. She married Weldon Reeves on February 22, 1927 in Carthage. Monsie and Weldon founded Reeves Motor Sales in Carthage, a business they operated together for many years.

Monsie had been a member of the First United Methodist Church of Carthage since 1928 where she was a charter member and the first President of the Gleaner's Sunday School Class. She also was the last living charter member of the Day Circle Bible Study which was started in the 1950's. She was a member and past President of the United Methodist Women since 1940 where she formerly served as chairwoman for the Longview District. She cherished working with all of her dear friends at the First United Methodist Church throughout the years. Monsie said, "My church was always my first priority and the other things were second."

Monsie was a lifetime member of the PTA and a former member of the Carthage Book Club. She enjoyed all of the ladies who helped serve the Noon Lions Club meal in the 1930's and 1940's for 35 cents a plate.

Monsie enjoyed many years of fishing with her husband Weldon, Bea Adams, Louise Osborne, and Ollie Ruth McMillian. At the request of her husband, Monsie began deer hunting in the 1950's in Ingram, TX with Weldon, Bea Adams, and Ollie Ruth and Paul McMillian. This was a yearly tradition until Weldon's death in 1979. Monsie and Bea continued to hunt near Ingram with Monsie's nephews, Billy Dinkle and wife Jean, Jack Reeves and wife Pat, and Billy's son, Mitch Dinkle.

Monsie enjoyed visits from her grandchildren. "Muz" as they called her, was a name given to her by her eldest grandchild Carole, who often went on the deer hunting trips near Ingram as a young child. Muz always loved cooking for her grandchildren and her door was always open to them and their many friends.

Monsie enjoyed cooking and her signature "chicken pie" was often prepared for the birth of new babies, sick friends, or for church functions. She would prepare fish suppers and quail dinners from hunting trips near Carrizo Springs (yes she hunted quail to), wild turkey for Thanksgiving, backyard cookouts with friends, or tables close together in her home serving and giving.

Monsie was preceded in death by her husband Weldon Reeves who passed away on December 4, 1979 and one son, Jim Reeves who passed away on May 9, 2003.

Monsie is survived by one daughter, June Smylie of Carthage, TX; six grandchildren, Carole Reeves of Arlington, TX, Steven Smylie and wife Patti of Virginia, Susan Smylie and husband Franz of Floresville, TX, Lisa Willis and husband Geoff of Edmund, OK, and Marshall and Cindy Reeves both of Charleston, South Carolina; and seven great-grandchildren.

Monsie loved life and all the beautiful people she has known throughout her life and she has said, "Most of them are gone, but many are left that I love." She also emphasized, "If you are not interested in God's work and loving people, you are missing so much."

Serving as pallbearers are Mitch Dinkle, John Worley, Mike Patrick, Ricky Michaels, Steve Smylie, Ike Reeves, Randy Reeves, and Rob Jolley. Serving as honorary pallbearers are Robert Patrick, Billy Dinkle, Charles Reeves, Jack Reeves, Eldon Reeves, and Roger Reeves.

If desired, memorials may be made to the First United Methodist Church, 201 South Shelby, Carthage, TX 75633.


A guestbook may be signed online at www.jimerson-lipsey.com.