Roumaine Reynolds
Roumaine Reynolds, age 85, died unexpectedly on Sunday
(March 28, 2010) at Memorial Home in Moundridge.
She was born to Ralph and Frieda Holt on March 2, 1925 in St
Joseph, Mo. The family lived in Robinson until Roumaine was 3. They then moved
to Concordia and to Kansas City, Kan., when she was 10 years old.
Roumaine and her father, an Evangelical United Brethren
minister, had many happy hours together raising horses. She was a talented
girl, starting piano lessons at age 3 and organ lessons at age 12. She sang her
first public solo at age 12. She had a lifelong love of music, playing organ
and piano until very recently, and she always sang in the church choir and in a
choir at Memorial Home.
She graduated from Wyandotte High School in 1943 and then
attended York College. It was there that she met Gordon Reynolds who was
serving in the Air Force close by. They married on Feb. 1, 1946, and began
their life of traveling together for the service and later, the ministry. They
lived in Clovis, N.M., Shreveport, La., Tampa, Fla., and San Antonio, and
settled in Tacoma, Wash., for 10 years.
They were blessed with four children, Barbara, Leslie,
Martha and Gordon Jr. In 1958, the family moved to Portsmouth, N.H., where she
was fascinated with the historical life and ocean. The family spent many hours
taking in the area sites and enjoying the ocean.
Roumaine was an accomplished cook and baker, and she shared
many recipes with Air Force wives who had been all over the world. Her children
were the privileged recipients of her many tasty dishes.
In 1976, Roumaine and Gordon moved to Bangor, Maine, then to
Dexter, Maine and eventually to Ontario, Canada. They were divorced in 1979,
and Roumaine moved home to Kansas City, Kan., to care for her father until his
death in 1987. She was an active member of every Episcopal church wherever she
lived, and she loved her faith and God very much.
At 79, she moved to North Newton and lived for a time at
Kidron Bethel Assisted Living, but she did so well caring for herself that she
was able to live for almost three years in independent living at Hickory Homes
in Hesston. When her health necessitated a move, she went to Memorial Home and
lived out her final days with the loving care of the staff
and residents. She was very happy at Memorial Home, and she made sure everyone
knew it.
She leaves behind her loving children, Barbara and Karl
Schuler of Dripping Springs, Texas, Leslie and Roger Ratzlaff of Hesston, Marti
Alexander of Ranger, Texas. and Gordon and Debbie Reynolds of Buda, Texas; 11
grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.
Visitation will be from 5 to 9 p.m. on Wednesday, at
Peterson Funeral Home in Newton. There will be a memorial service for
residents, staff, family and friends at 1:30 Thursday at Memorial Home in
Moundridge.
