This obituary is from a newspaper clipping, the paper is unknown. Mrs. Mary C. Reece Dies at Age of 92 -------------------- Pioneer Cass Countian Succumbs December 31 Following Illness Due to Hip Injury - Funeral Here Tuesday ---------------------- Mrs Mary Catharine Reece died at the Harrisonville Hospital Sunday morning at 12:38 o'clock following an illness of almost six months. On Tuesday, July 11, 1939, Mrs. Reece fell at the home of her son, Charles Benton Reece, on South Independence Street, and fractured her right hip. She was taken immediately to the Harrisonville Hospital where every attention could be given her. During the ensuing months she lingered patiently, endured heroically, and died triumphantly. A Pioneer Mother Mrs. Reece was one of the few remaining pioneers of Cass County. She was born January 10, 1848, at Berlin, Bedford County, Penn., her parents being Henry and Elizabeth Mittong, substantial pioneer citizens of the community in which they lived. In her family were nine children- five sons and four daughters - she being the third child in the home, the oldest of the daughters and the last of the children to pass away. In 1854 her parents moved to Mannington, W. Va. There they remained fifteen years. In 1869 they brought the family down the Ohio River by boat to the Mississippi and up the tatter river to St. Louis. From St. Louis they continued their journey westward to Holden, MO., where the home was established. In Business in Freeman. In 1871 Miss Mary Catharine established herself in the Millinery and Dress Making business in Freeman. While there she made the acquaintance of a promising young gentleman by the name of Commodore Benton Reece. About two years later they were married, the date of the wedding being February 5, 1873. The young couple established their home on a farm one mile and a half southwest of Freeman. In 1883 they moved to a farm four and one half miles northwest of Kingsville, in Johnson County. Eleven months later they purchased the farm one mile northwest of Harrisonville where they lived together until the time of Mr. Reece's death, June 4, 1915. Her husband, 77 years old at the time of his death, was a native of Johnson County, MO., his birthplace being seven miles northwest of Holden. His father Isham Reece, was sheriff of Johnson County during the years of 1857 and 1858. The father and his family moved to within seven miles of Lawrence, Kans., in 1861 and resided there until 1867. On their return to Cass County they located on the Smallwood farm, one and a half miles southwest of Freeman, and there Commodore Benton Reece lived with his father up to the time of the latter's death. Lived here 22 years. Following the death of her husband, Mrs. Reece continued her residence on the farm two years after which she went to live with her daughter, Mrs. E. V. Gross, near Archie. After remaining with her daughter eight months, Mrs. Reece kept house in Harrisonville ten years. During the last twelve years her home had been with her son, Charles Benton Reece, on South Independence Street, except for brief periods when she was visiting among her near relatives. Mrs. Reece became the mother of five children - four sons and one daughter. These are all living - Charles Benton Reece of Harrisonville, Harry E. Reece of Kansas City, Walter L. Reece of Greeley, Colo., Robert L. Reece of Los Angeles, Calif., and Mrs. E. V. (Ida Mary) Gross of Archie. Besides her children she is survived by eight grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. Many other relatives are left to mourn her passing, and hosts of friends and acquaintances. When Mrs. Reece was a young girl she became a Christian and united with the Presbyterian Church in Holden. After moving to Freeman she transferred her membership to the Methodist Episcopal Church in that town. Later when the home was established near Harrisonville she placed her membership with the old Methodist Episcopal Church here, and continued in its fellowship until the time of its disorganization.