Barbara Joan Eardley Reeve
1938 – 2022
Our beloved mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother Barbara Joan Reeve, passed away Sunday, February 20, 2022 from natural causes. Barbara was born May 6, 1938 in Salt Lake City, UT to Jack & Dorothea Eardley. She was the oldest of four children. Barbara was raised in Salt Lake with her younger brothers Wally, Jack and Bill. She attended school in Salt Lake, graduating from Olympus High School in 1956 where she met the love of her life Rex Reeve Jr.
Rex and Barbara were married in the Salt Lake City Temple on September 4, 1959. They created a beautiful family together as they lived in Utah, Arizona, and South Dakota; finally settling in Springville, Utah in May 1974. Barbara was a wonderful support to her husband throughout his career and in every calling received in The Church. Barbara loved serving alongside her husband as the Mission President in South Dakota, and enjoyed their numerous opportunities to explore Israel together. Barbara was a wonderful mother, she was always there to wipe a tear, clean a wound, drive the early morning paper route, showing unconditional love and support for anything her kids chose to participate in. Barbara did everything she could to support each of her children in their events, and you always knew she was there when you heard her “infamous whistle!”
Spending time outdoors was another thing Barbara loved to do. Many fond memories were made traveling around Utah with her four-wheeling group, camping, seeing new sights and enjoying the beauty around her. Barbara also loved the times she served in the temple and doing family history work for her ancestors. Her favorite part of temple service was Initiatories. Barbara held many callings in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints where she served honorably, faithfully, and always with a smile on her face and a cheerful attitude.
Barbara had a great love for her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She did everything she could to support them, love them, and teach them to choose the right. As her health diminished over the last several years, she spent countless hours lying on the couch looking at pictures of each of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren admiring who they had become and what they meant to her.
Barbara found a love for golf at an early age alongside her father. They spent many hours golfing together throughout her youth which helped her achieve the title of Jr. Miss Utah Champion at the age of 17. After a sabbatical from the sport, during her child-bearing years, Barbara returned realizing she hadn’t lost a step. She was an active member of the Hobble Creek Ladies’ Golf Association for years; she competed in many tournaments and won numerous awards. She was extremely proud of her three “hole in one” shots. She was known for her uncanny ability to find lost golf balls walking through the brush and riverbeds during her rounds of golf. Barbara’s favorite part of golf was playing with her children and grandchildren and watching them learn to love the sport!
Barbara is survived by her children: Cory Christensen (Benji), Rex A. Reeve (Carla), Jack Reeve (Julie), Howard Reeve (Marni), Jolene Ackerman (Jeff), Laura Robinson (Michael) and Aaron Reeve (Stephanie); as well as 29 grandchildren and 35 great-grandchildren (with three more on the way). She is survived by her brother Jack Eardley, cousins, nieces, and nephews. She is preceded in death by her husband Rex C Reeve Jr, her parents Jack Bailey and Dorothea Waller Eardley, along with her brothers Wally and Bill Eardley.
A viewing is scheduled for Thursday February 24, 2022 from 6:00-8:00pm at the Springville Stake Center (245 South 600 East, Springville, Utah 84663); and Friday February 25, 2022 from 11:30am-12:30pm at the Stake Center with funeral services starting at 1:00pm. Interment will be at the Springville City cemetery (200 West 400 South) after the service. You can find the link to view the funeral service virtually by going to www.warenski.com.
Our family is grateful for the love and support we’ve received from friends and family, and for assistance from the Springville 3rd Ward. We truly appreciate the exceptional service received from the staff at Highland Glen Memory Care Center in Highland, UT; those at Suncrest Hospice; and our friends at Warenski Funeral Home.
Condolences may be shared with the family at www.warenski.com.