Gloria Ellison Reece

Gloria Ellison Reece passed away peacefully on February 04, 2024, in Jacksonville, FL. She was born on July 31, 1945, in Jacksonville, Florida to Will Ocie Ellison (1913 – 1976) and Maebell Ellison (nee Corbin) (1912 – 1976). Beloved sister to John Curtis Ellison, Catherine Baity, Lamar Ellison, Veda Davis, Myrtice Ellison, and Faye Richardson. She is survived by husband, C. J. Reece, daughter, Linda Ann Minney and spouse Glen Minney, and son, Charles Adonis Reece, grandson, Christopher Sean Irwin and spouse Anna Irwin, great granddaughter, Olivia Belle Irwin, and great grandson, Sebastian Charles Irwin. She was pre-deceased by her grand-son Joshua Daniel Irwin (1988 – 1992), and brothers Junior Simpson and Rocky Ellison (1954 – 2017). Young life for Gloria was about being outside and running free. She was a bit of a tomboy and the ‘wild child’. Typically, you could find her, hair in pig tails, fearlessly climbing a tree, taunting a brother, or prowling through the sugarcane fields. Gloria’s parents, Ocie and Maebell Ellison, although not physically wealthy, imbued their children with an abundance of love, the importance of family, compassion, power, and passion. As a young woman coming of age in the fifties you could often find her on the beach or causing ‘trouble’ around Jacksonville with her sisters. Gloria met C. J. Reece during a night out at the Golden Gate Lounge in Jacksonville, FL with one of her sisters. He captured her attention by inviting her to dance the Beach-Bop. They could capture the crowd’s attention and have the floor to themselves within moments. After winning her heart, she was truly devoted to him, and they eventually married. Their 65 years together were always full of new adventures. These amazing escapades included riding on the back of a Triumph through the London City Zoo, living across America in 48 states with C. J.’s work, raising two children Linda Ann Minney and Charles Adonis Reece, and for many years she found tremendous joy gliding along on her Harley Softail Classic. After pipelining ventures ended, Gloria spent five years helping her husband develop oil field businesses in Evanston, WY. Then the family moved to Wagoner, OK where they were the proprietors of Whitehorn Cove Resort & Marina for twelve years. Throughout all these travelling years Gloria stuck to her roots, teaching her family the importance of love, respect, compassion, honor, and hard work. Eventually roads led Gloria back to Jacksonville. Years before property had been secured near other relatives. During this chapter of life Gloria reconnected with many relatives and old Floridian friends, she and C. J. continued to enjoy their ‘toys’ such as an airboat, their Harley Road King, and side-by-side. She always loved feeling the wind through her hair, sunshine on her face, and the feeling of being free. The days Gloria spent alone with her children were always magical, special, and adventurous. She taught her children and grandchildren to always advocate for their dreams and made sure they knew they were attainable. She was always up early, peacefully thinking and planning her day. Which typically included amazing home-made food, her love language. She knew that it showed love, nourished her family and friends, and enjoyed how everyone lit up when they tasted her cuisine. Gloria made sure that her family, husband, and children ALWAYS knew they were loved and knew what love is.

A graveside funeral service to honor her life will be held 11:00am, Thursday, February 8, 2024, at Manning Cemetery, Jacksonville, Florida with Pastor Rick Dougherty officiating. Warren Funeral Services of Baldwin is honored to serve the Reece family.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Gloria Ellison Reece, please visit our floral store.