Daisy Josephine Reynolds

Daisy Josephine Reynolds was born on July 17, 1932 to Harry and Agnes Collins in Abilene, Texas. She was the third of six children and was very close to her siblings throughout her life. As a young girl, growing up during the Great Depression, Jo learned the value of hard work from her mother, who often worked multiple jobs to keep food on the table. At one point their home was a boarding house and Jo’s job was to clean the rooms. Family and faith were at the center of their lives, and as busy as her family was, they always went to church. Jo credits her deep faith and great love of family to those early years watching her mother. Jo met Melvin, the love of her life, when she was 16 while working in her mom’s diner. She recalls he was handsome, had good manners and was a nice young man. They were married later that year on November 27, 1949. Jo and Melvin have three children; Alta Agnes (Cindy), Kathy Jonette and Aubrey Melvin Jr. Jo took great pride in her role as wife and mother and cherished family time. Everyone knew that dinner time was sacred, and eating as a family was expected. Over the years, she became an accomplished seamstress, among other things, and made all the girls clothing. She spent much of her time away from home volunteering at the Methodist Church and was a lifelong member of the United Methodist Women. She found great value in the scriptures and was always involved in a Bible study or book study at the church. She often wrote Bible verses on notecards and left these around the house and car, as a constant reminder that our God is loving, forgiving and kind. While raising their family, Melvin and Jo transferred all over the state of Texas with Melvin‘s job at Southwestern Bell Telephone Company. From Kermit to Lubbock, Arlington to McKinney, and many places in between, they finally settled in Longview in 1971. Jo was completely devoted to Melvin and her children and it brought her great joy to take care of them. In 1977, Melvin and Jo bought the farm as it would come to be known, and built their dream home. While Melvin enjoyed farming, Jo kept busy as a realtor and volunteered as a Pink Lady at the hospital, along with being a full-time grandmother to her six grandkids who adored her. They built a life on the farm that would be the center of their family. Holidays, birthdays, any day, the farm was the place to be for the Reynolds family. It brought her great happiness to spend time with her kids, grandkids and great grandkids. Jo leaves behind her children Cindy and Ray Compton of Gilmer, Kathy Reynolds and Glynn Jeansonne of Gilmer, and Mel and Chris Reynolds of Longview. She has six grandchildren, Tommy and Valerie Ogle of Longview, Brook and Sky Pattavina of Spring, Tracy and Michael Cheek of Longview, Paige and James Sutton of Dallas, Shelby and Chris Lile of Longview and Bailey Reynolds of Longview. She’s been blessed with 10 great grandchildren; Aubrey, Maggie, Gage, Josey, Mollie Kate, Rory, Reed, Ryan, Graham and Finley. She is proceeded in death by her beloved husband of more than 73 years, Melvin, her parents, Harry and Agnes Collins, her brothers Harry, Abe, and Dennis Collins and sisters Francis Mincy and Grace Greenwood. Jo recently told her family, ‘My life has been wonderful, full of adventure and love’. The family would like to thank our caregivers; Crystal, Sula, Debbie and Kimberly for their wonderful care, and kindness over the last year. We would also like to thank HeartsWay Hospice for helping us through this difficult time. In lieu of flowers, the family would like to ask for donations to the Longview Community Ministries or HeartsWay Hospice of Longview. Funeral Services under the direction of Rader Funeral Home of Longview will be Thursday, December 14, 2023 at 11 AM at First Methodist Church in Gilmer, Texas. Visitation will be held at 10AM. Burial will follow at Rosewood Park. An online guest book may be signed at www.raderfh.com

Daisy Josephine Reynolds

July 17, 1932 - December 8, 2023