Norman Doyle Reese

Norman Doyle Reese, age 85, passed away February 23, 2020. Norman was born July 6, 1934 in Providence, Rhode Island. Adopted at age three by William Andrew and Bertha Irene (Boudreaux) Reese, Norman had no memory of his birth parents. He did have many fond memories of his young life in Rhode Island. At around age 14 he and his family left Rhode Island to move to Downey, California for his mother’s health. In California he graduated from Downey High School. After graduation rather than joining the Merchant Marines, as he once thought he would, he joined the United States Air Force. While in the Air Force he served in Korea during the Korean war.

Shortly after the Korean war, while stationed in Arizona, he met Peggy Ann Gladden and they were married. In those early years of marriage, they lived in Nebraska, where both his daughters were born. In 1964, while stationed in Utah, his son was born. In order to move less and spend more time with his family Norman left active duty service to try his hand as a farmer in Arizona. Despite help from his father-in-law he realized that he was not cut out for farming. Reaching back to a career he enjoyed, Norman rejoined the Air Force as a reserve airman and as a full-time civil employee of the US Air Force in 1968. The job came with a move to Deer Park, Texas and a station at Ellington Air Force base, Houston, Texas.

While in the Houston area Norman completed an Associate’s degree in Electronics Technology from San Jacinto Jr. College. Norman and the Reese family lived in Deer Park until the closure of Ellington Air Force base in 1976. This meant one more move and one more station at Bergstrom Air Force Base in Austin Texas. Norman finished his military career as a Senior Master Sergeant in charge of an Avionics and Navigation group of the 924 TFG. At that time this rank was the highest obtainable by a non-commissioned airman.

After retiring from Bergstrom Air Force Base in the mid 90’s Norman focused on enjoying life and his grandchildren. He had a personable demeanor and always enjoyed visiting with people. He was blessed with many friends and always managed to make new ones wherever he went.

Although Norman lived in many places throughout his life, Rhode Island was always near and dear to his heart. In 2019 Norman took a return trip to Rhode Island and during this trip he was able to identify and visit numerous childhood locations that he had not seen since 1951. Though his adopted family was from Wales he had always thought of himself as Irish. In 2019, his granddaughters, Christina and Tara, surprised him with the gift of a genetic profile and discovered that he truly was an Irishman.

Norman was preceded in death by his parents; his loving wife of nearly 50 years, Peggy Ann Reese and brother, William Reese. Those left to cherish his memory include his children, Kasi Brown and husband Paul, Norma Marquardt and husband Steve, and Michael Reese and wife Holly; grandchildren, Kris Brown and wife Mandy, Karl Brown and wife Jill, Zach Brown, Charlie Brown, Colin Marquardt, Darcie Marquardt, Tara St. John and husband Dylan and Christina Reese; great grandchildren, Zoe Brown, Lillian Brown, Jackson Brown and Nolan Brown; and a host of other relatives and friends.