Deloris Iona Reeves, daughter of Lester G. and Verba May (Crawford) Tyler, was born February 17, 1932, in Northboro, Iowa, and was reared the first 12 years of her life in Atchison County, Missouri, attending both Clover Hill and Loss Grove rural schools. The family moved to Gaynor, Missouri, in February of 1946, where Deloris finished 8th grade and then attended four years of high school at Sheridan, Missouri.

On May 5, 1950, Deloris was united in marriage to Jesse Howard Reeves. They lived in Atchison County their entire married life. Two sons, David Howard and Jesse Alan, and one daughter, Charlotte Sue, were born to this union.

Deloris was a member and officer of Morning Sun Club, later Morning Sun Friendship Club. She was also a member of Tarkio First Baptist Church where she served in Women’s Missionary Union, was the Baptist Women President, and held numerous other positions including working with the Sunday School 4- and 5-year-olds.

Deloris served as a Cub Scout Den Mother and was an Avon representative for several years. She devoted her married life primarily as wife and homemaker and as a babysitter and “helping hand” when needed. She found much joy working in her flower gardens, and hiking and camping. In later life, Deloris turned her focus to writing, publishing 13 books of Western romance which she shared with family and friends. She also wrote a personal account of her life with her husband and a biography of her own growing up years.

Deloris passed away on June 16, 2023. Survivors include a son, David Reeves of Maryville, Missouri; a daughter, Charlotte and son-in-law, Phil Terhune of Arlington, Washington; four grandchildren, Eric Reeves of Port Angeles, Washington, Janessa Butterfield and her husband Lee of Boone, Iowa, Stephen Terhune of Arlington, Washington, and Peter Terhune of Snohomish, Washington; five great-grandchildren, Jesse and Alorrah Reeves, Braedin and Rylin Butterfield, and Ewan Terhune; several nieces and nephews; and sisters-in-law, Marjorie Johnson and Diane Reeves.

Besides her parents and husband, Jesse, Deloris was preceded in death by a son, Jesse Alan, her brothers, Kenneth, Clifford, Jim, and Douglas, and her sister, Louise.

A funeral service will be held at 12:00 p.m. Tuesday, June 27, 2023, at the First Baptist Church, Tarkio. The family will receive friends from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Tuesday, prior to the service. Interment will be at Home Cemetery, Tarkio. Memorials may be directed to Paw Prints (Atchison County’s animal rescue fund), c/o Farmers State Bank, P.O. Box 158, Tarkio, MO 64491. Arrangements are under the direction of Davis Funeral Home in Tarkio. Online condolences may be left at www.minterfuneralchapels.com.