William Harold Reese Jr.

William Harold Reese Jr. went to be with our Lord and Savior on April 10, 2007. He had a long five-year battle with cancer.

He was born on Dec. 19, 1933, to William and Irene Reese in Hollywood, Calif. He moved from southern California to Moses Lake with his family in 1947. He graduated from Moses Lake High School in 1951. Following high school he attended Washington State University for one year (GO COUGS !) before joining the navy. He served as a crew chief working on the T34 aircraft in Pensacola, Fla., for four years. After his honorable discharge he returned to Moses Lake and worked for Boeing. In 1956 he moved back to Southern California and started working for United Sprinklers. He married Betty Carpenter and they had three children, Brent, Cherie, and Jeanette. He continued working for United Sprinklers. In 1962 he partnered up with Vern Kennegy to start K & R Sprinklers. In 1967 he partnered up with his brother Jack Reese to start Reese Brothers Sprinklers. In 1971 an earthquake destroyed his home in Sylmar, Calif. He moved his family to Moses Lake and worked sprinklers for another two years before purchasing Kelly's Tavern. He divorced and married Sibyl Nichols. He owned and operated Kelly's Tavern for 17 years. During that time he ran and was elected to be on the Moses Lake city council. He served on the city council for 16 years. He then sold Kelly's Tavern and bought General Laundry.

Bill also served his community as a longtime member of the Moose Lodge, Elks Lodge , Lions Club and the American Legion.

He is survived by his wife Sibyl, his brother Jack Reese of Moses Lake, his sister Judy Wright of Medford, Ore.; two daughters Cherie Reese of Seattle; and Jeanette Fielding of Ephrata; one son, Brent Reese of Moses Lake, one stepson, Scott Nichols and one stepdaughter, Lisa Nichols both of Moses Lake; five grandchildren, Justin McDowall, Mellisa Mcdowall, Traci Mcdowall , Ashley Close and Jeremy Reese all of Moses Lake; three step-grandchildren, Brittney Fergison, Jillian Nichols and Heather Nichols all of Moses Lake; and one step-great grandchild, Blake William Nichols.

Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, April 20, at Lake City Four Square Church with Pastor Dave Chandler officiating. Arrangements are in care of Kayser's Chapel & Crematory, Moses Lake.