Gertie Stevens

Gertie Marie Stevens Reeves, 88, of Mt. Vernon, died at Sunday, May 7, 206 at New Harmonie Healthcare Center in New Harmony, IN. Gertie was born April 24, 1918 in Dayville, IN daughter of Edgar and Lena Gottman. She was a seamstress and a Member of The First United Methodist Church in Mt. Vernon. Gertie and her first husband Rev. Edward Stevens established General Baptist Missions in the Mariannas Islands. They were assigned to Guam and Saipian where they served from 1946 to 1949. They returned to the mission field in 1951 to the island of Chi Chi Jima and served until Rev. Stevens died from a sudden heart attack. The family returned to Mt. Vernon and Gertie later married Beauford Reeves and became a farm wife in the Savah area. Gertie and Beauford operated the Wayne Feed Store in Mt. Vernon for many years. Gertie was a seamstress for 30 years and also worked at Carolyn’s Fashionland Dress Shop until the effects of Alzheimer’s forced her to retire. She had been a member of the Mt. Vernon General Baptist Church, Savah General Baptist Church and was active in the Women’s Missionary Society and a Sunday School Teacher. Gertie was also a member of First United Methodist Church where she was active in United Methodist Women and Rachael Circle and a Sunday School Teacher; She was a member of the Kitcheners Home Ec Club, Garden Club, Bridge Club, Elks Club , Western Hills Country Club, Red Cross Volunteer and Pink Lady at Deaconess Hospital. Gertie was also a member of the Ramblers Literary Club. Gertie was preceded in death by her first husband Rev. Edward Stevens in 1952, her son Donald in 1950, her second husband, Beauford Reeves in 1977, and her granddaughter, Christy Lee Parsley in 1996.

She is survived by her son, David Stevens and his wife Lois of Mt. Vernon, IN and 3 great-grandchildren, Candice, Benjamin and Nathaniel Parsley of Rockport, IN; 2 sisters, Genevieve Champlin of Benton, IL and Hallie Axe of New Castle, IN. Also surviving are several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held 10:00 AM, Wednesday, May 10, 2006 at First United Methodist Church, 601 Main St. Mt. Vernon, IN with Rev. Russ Abel and Rev. Edward Miller officiating. Burial in the Bellefontaine Cemetery in Mt. Vernon. Friends may call from 2:00 pm until 8:00 pm on Tuesday at Austin Funeral Home, 1330 East Fourth Street in Mount Vernon, IN. Memorial contributions can be made to First United Methodist Church in Mt. Vernon or the General Baptist Foreign Mission Board.