John Paul Reece

John Paul Reece, 80, of Lake Charles died at 11:15 PM on Thursday, June 30, 2016 in a local hospice facility.

Mr. Reece was born on July 29, 1935 in Singer, LA and moved to Welsh in his early teenage years. He was a graduate of Welsh High School. Mr. Reece moved to Lake Charles when he was 20 years old where he resided the remainder of his life. He retired from the railroad industry having worked for Kansas City Southern Railroad for 43 years as a railroad clerk and also as an assistant agent. He belonged to the Brotherhood of Railway and Steamship Clerks Union. Mr. Reece was a member of Our Lady Queen of Heaven Catholic Church.

He was a loving and caring husband, father, and grandfather who adored his family. Mr. Reece will be remembered for his famous mayhaw jelly “Delicious Mayhaw Jelly” sold in numerous stores in Louisiana and Texas.

Those left to cherish his memory are his devoted wife of 59 years, Mary Reece of Lake Charles; five children, Dr. Gregory Paul Reece (Kelley Baldwin Reece) of Sugarland, TX, John Kevin Reece, Frances Tera DeLon, and Linda Ann Shuff all of Lake Charles, and Judy Gail Allen (Thomas) of Collinston, LA; eight grandchildren, Brian Mark, John Alexander, and Kelley Lauren Reece, Cherie Alison and Danielle Elizabeth DeLon, Becky Allen Keating, Sarah Allen Brown, and Lance Michael Shuff; and four great grandchildren, Jayce Michael Weeks, Marie Bel Mancuso, Jayden Louis Rosado, and Emilia Reece Allen.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Noda and Willie Reece; and two brothers, Leon Alfred and Friend Robert Reece.

A funeral mass will be held at 2:00 PM on Tuesday, July 5, 2016 at Our Lady Queen of Heaven Catholic Church. Monsignor James Gaddy will officiate. Burial will follow in Consolata Cemetery under the direction of Johnson Funeral Home. Visitation will begin on Monday from 4:00 PM until 9:00 PM with a rosary being recited at 6:00 PM. Visitation will continue on Tuesday from 8:00 AM until leaving for the church at 1:45 PM.