Ben Adrian Reese

July 18, 2025

SALTILLO – Ben Adrian Reese joined his wife Betty in heaven on Friday, July 18, 2025. Ben grew up in Benton Arkansas. After graduating from Benton High School he attended and graduated from Arkansas Tech University. In 1958 he married Betty Ann Barnard. His work led them to several different states until he accepted a job in Tupelo, MS where he and Betty settled and raised their six children.

Ben was an avid fisherman and hunter, and he loved spending time with dear friends at their hunting camp in Arkansas. His love for fishing took him from Florida to exotic places in South America such as the Amazon, Uruguay, Argentina, Costa Rica and many other countries. He loved to share stories of the families he would meet and some that he would see each time he went.

However his greatest joy was his family; his love for them was immeasurable. Ben was the proud father of 5 daughters and 1 son, in all of whom he instilled a deep devotion to family. Ben’s love and devotion to family was instilled in him by his mother and his grandparents Elizabeth and Locke Harper, who helped to raise him along with their children who were more like his siblings than his aunts and uncles. This family taught him how to live a good life.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Betty Ann Barnard Reese, his parents, Emily Jo Harper Dove and James Dove, his grandparents Elizabeth Key Harper and Locke Harper, his in-laws Vera Fern Barnard and William B. Barnard, and his faithful dog Sadie.

He leaves behind six children: Caran Brown {Jim}, Sherrie Ciminelli, Jim Reese {Kim} , Beth Gafford {Jeff}, Laney Bush {Stephen}, and Jennifer Reese; as well as 10 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren.

A joint graveside service will be held for Ben Adrian Reese, his wife Betty Ann Barnard Reese, and their faithful dog Sadie at Pinecrest Cemetery in Little Rock, Arkansas at a later date.

Holland Funeral Directors in Tupelo, MS and Pinecrest Funeral Home in Little Rock have charge of the arrangements.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Wounded Warrior Project and Sanctuary Hospice House, P.O. Box 2177, Tupelo, MS 38002, or your favorite charity.

Please follow the funeral home link above for further information, or to send online condolences or memorial gifts.