Reba McGarity shocked all her closest family members during the first hour of Monday, November 16, 2020 as she peacefully departed this world to join her beloved husband of 51 years, Harley, behind the pearly gates of heaven.  Indeed, for years Reba swore to each of her children and grandchildren that she would stick around to spite us all.  Reba waited patiently until Gunsmoke came back on the television to bid farewell to her not-so-secret crush, James Arness, before she passed away while surrounded by family.

Reba was raised in Rives, MO and would tell her family stories about her childhood.  Tales included watching movies and buying burgers for a dime in downtown Rives or eating a pound of bologna with her cousin while walking beside the train tracks.  Everyone knew she had a scar on her nose from a car accident when she had snuck out of the house to go on a joyride.  One of her favorite stories involved going on a double date and by the end of the evening, she decided she liked the other guy. Reba and Harley were inseparable after that night.

Reba was an award-winning crochetier, which she assumed full-time after retiring from Emerson Electric after 33 and a half years.  Friends and family treasure the dozens of crocheted blankets that adorn their homes.  She sat in Harley's chair watching Westerns and Family Feud while working on her latest projects.  Every day, she had an oatmeal cream pie or Pappy-snack with a glass of Pepsi for breakfast.  She kept a picture of Toby Keith in her kitchen.  She collected dimes and kept every greeting card she ever received.  She loved roses, the color red, and a good laugh.  Her friends and family knew her as Reba Faye Sue Louise Westerfield McGarity, although she often introduced herself as Reba McIntyre.

Even more than Westerns, Reba cherished her four boys.  Number One, Rick, who inherited Reba's legs and feet, is married to Marietha and lives in Jonesboro, Arkansas.  Number Two, Tim, who Reba calls T.A., lives in Rives.  Number Three, Mike, who "moved outside the country," lives in Vancouver, WA.  And, Number Four, Jerry, who has a catalog of not-so-politically-correct Gunsmoke quotes, is married to Kelly and lives in Tucson, AZ.  Her baby brother, Russell Westerfield, who she ate lunch with on most Fridays,  lives in Kennett, MO.  She and Harley spent summers with them at Norfork Lake and Clear Water Lake, camping and water skiing.  In the winters, they would load the boys up and drive them to West Palm Beach, FL to pick oranges.  She cut all the boys' hair, even after their hair was salted with gray.   She fed them fried okra, tacos with homemade shells, ham and beans, fried potatoes, beef jerky, biscuits and gravy, pecan pies, and cornbread.  She often kept an extra breakfast sandwich or two wrapped in a paper towel for them on top of the bacon grease jar that camped on top of her stove.

Reba's daughters-in-law, Marietha and Kelly, have had the good humor and great honor to be honorary daughters of Reba and Harley since they were teens (not-so-long-ago, thank you very much).  She fed them fried crappie, macaroni salad, Panchos cheese dip, and sweet tea.  Each will tell you that in addition to her grand sense of humor, Reba was a rock-solid source of emotional support and advice.  She was always there for life's highs and lows: births, deaths, weddings, and life.

One of Reba's greatest joys in life was her grandchildren.  After growing up with two brothers, and raising 5 boys – she lumped Harley in with her boys – Jesse made her debut as Reba's first girl.  The limelight didn't last long.  Matt, Justin, Lauren, Stephanie, Megan, Jake, Nick, Mally, Riley, and Alex joined the grandkid ranks along with Shannon, her honorary granddaughter.  There was rarely a weekend in their childhood when one or five of her grandchildren didn't camp out in Reba's living room.  Her grandchildren enjoyed spirited games of rummy with their "Mema."  They were treated to her stepping on frogs and trips to the fair, where she'd scream on rides with her mouth closed, and Ray Stevens videos.  As they got older, her grandchildren loved spending afternoons around her kitchen table playing games.  Her great-grandkids are James, Sarah, Hazel, Eva, Eliza, Elliot, Norah, Rosemary, Millie, Julia, Maverick, Ryker, and Reid.  She fed them Pappy-snacks, macaroni and tomatoes, chicken and dumplings, chocolate pies, and pickle juice.

From making extra bags of beef jerky or sending you home with an extra pie she baked just because she knew you were coming and it was your favorite, Reba made every person in her life feel special.   And oh how special you were to her!  Occasionally, you'd go home with an extra afghan or roll of quarters.  Her home was the gathering place.  Everyone who came into her home was treated like family.  No one left hungry and without cheeks burning from laughter.

Reba is predeceased by the love of her life, Lee Harley McGarity, her parents, Homer and Hazel Westerfield, an infant sister, and her brother, Verlon.  Her family thanks the entire staff of St. Bernard's Hospital in Jonesboro, Arkansas for their tremendous and compassionate care of Reba as well as her family.

Graveside, socially-distanced, services will be held at Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Kennett, MO coordinated by McDaniel Funeral Services on Friday, November 20 at 11:00 a.m.  A short service will be led by Pastor Paul Moore of Hornersville Baptist Church, which she attended with her dear friend and fellow mother-in-law, Mary Ridings.  Please feel free to dress casually or as Reba would say "take your weekly bath early (even though it isn't Saturday) and wear your good jeans."