Amy Louise Rea
Posted 11/29/2017
NEW YORK – Amy Louise Rea, 64, of New
York City and formerly of Halstead passed away Nov. 11, 2017 at
Calvary Hospice in the Bronx, New York. Amy survived for 29 months
following a diagnosis of glioblastoma brain cancer before succumbing
to the cancer.
Amy was born in Newton, Kansas, on Dec.
20, 1952, and shared that birth date with her father, Harold Rea,
former editor and publisher of the Halstead Independent. She
graduated from Halstead High School in 1970, attended Kansas State
University (where she was a member of Chi Omega sorority) and
graduated from Kansas University in 1974. Amy appeared in various
plays in high school as well as at KSU, KU, and in the New York
Theater. She was a member of the Screen Actors Guild.
Most recently she was a successful real
estate broker in New York City. For the past 14 years she worked at
one of the largest real estate firms in New York, ironically named
Halstead Properties, Inc. (founded in 1984 by Clark Halstead).
Amy was preceded in death by her
father, Harold Rea (former owner of the Halstead Independent);
mother, Elinor Uhl Rea (former grade school teacher in Halstead); and
brother, Russell Rea. She is survived by her sister Ruth Fraser of
Williamsburg Virginia; and brothers Roger Rea (Liz) of Omaha,
Nebraska and James Rea (Jean) of Wichita; daughter Venus Ranieri of
Whippany, New Jersey, several cousins, nieces and nephews, and many
friends.
Amy was a member of various skating and
dance organizations in New York, including the Central Park Dance
Skaters Association (CPDSA), and is perhaps best known in Halstead
for roller dancing on the bricks of Main Street during Old Settlers
Celebrations. She received the first-place award as an individual
participant in the Old Settlers Parade on several occasions for her
skating expertise.
Cremation has taken place and her ashes
will be interred in Greenwood Cemetery in Newton in the family plot.
A celebration of life is being planned in Halstead in mid-February.
In lieu of flowers, her family requests that donations be made to the
Halstead Community Foundation, PO Box 4, Halstead, KS 67056.
