Gordon Benjamin Reese passed away on August 31, 2026 in Rock Hill, South Carolina at the age of 95.
Gordon was born on December 2, 1930 to Ivor Elias Reese and Edna Gertrude (Cramer) Reese in Independence, Missouri. Gordon’s parents were teachers, who raised eight children at 1812 Hedges in Independence, Missouri.
Gordon was a bright student, and graduated from High School at the age of 16. That fall, he and his older brother Trevor had an adventure, picking apples in California, following the harvest into Oregon and Washington state.
At age 17, Gordon joined the U.S. Navy. His father had to sign for him as he was not yet 18 years old. He enlisted for three years, but due to the Korean conflict had to stay an extra year. However, since he was a meteorologist stationed in Bermuda, he didn’t mind too much.
Gordon used the Gi Bill to attend college at the University of Missouri, Columbia, and graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting in June 1955. While at college, he met Donna Faye Dunkin of Unionville, Missouri at the Baptist Student Union (now called the Baptist Collegiate Ministry). They were married from August 28, 1954 until Donna’s death on April 6, 2025. Their son David was born to them in 1960.
Gordon loved to take vacations with his family, traveling to Dude ranches in Colorado, the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, and visiting family in Oregon and Washington State. In 1968, he spent part of his vacation helping to build a small Baptist church in Salt Lake City. His excitement was contagious, and in 1969 he returned to Utah with a large team from his church to construct another Baptist church building.
Those years were pivotal for Gordon and Donna. In 1968, they felt the Lord calling them to missions. They were accepted by the Baptist Foreign Mission Board (today called the International Mission Board), and began training. They moved to Callaway Gardens in Pine Mountain, Georgia for a 4-month orientation on January 1, 1970. In May of that year, they began language training in San Jose, Costa Rica.
Most of the missionaries studying Spanish in San Jose attended large churches in the city. Gordon, desiring to have a greater impact, would take his family to a small, poor, rural church outside the city, a 45-minute taxi ride away. He knew that his tithe would be a significant blessing in such an impoverished area.
After language school, Gordon and Donna served in Santiago, Chile. Gordon was the business manager for the Baptist mission. By shouldering the administrative burden, he helped other missionaries to focus full time on their roles as pastors and evangelists. Life in Chile was difficult at the time. Kerosene for heating homes and food became scarce. Fellow missionaries would often call to say there were rumors of civil war. Time after time, Gordon and Donna would fill every container in the house with water, knowing that electricity and water would be cut in a conflict.
After the Chilean Army seized power and international travel was again possible, Gordon and Donna returned to the US for furlough in the fall of 1973. From there they went on to serve in Quito, Ecuador from 1974 to 1978.
In 1979, after many years of service on the mission field, Gordon went back to work in Kansas City as an accountant. In retirement, he moved to Georgia, then South Carolina to be close to family.
Gordon will be remembered for his quiet, gentle nature, his interest in people, and how he demonstrated his love through acts of service. He loved to sing the Alphabet Song to his grandchildren, and listen to hymns. He was quick to respond when a grandchild asked to play Ping-Pong or catch a ball. He will be missed.
Gordon, a beloved husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather is survived in death by his son, David Reese (Susan), grandchildren Philip Reese (Lauren), Rachel Kirby (Caleb), and Caleb Reese (Cassidy), and great grandchildren Esther, Amelia, Evelyn, Trystan, Cadence, Declan, a great grandson due in October, and a sister, Janis Gertrude Peters.
Gordon is preceded in death by his wife, Donna Faye Reese, his parents, his brothers Elias “Bud” Reese, Trevor David Reese, Evan Dale Reese, and sisters Vesta Belle Hutsell, Gwen Eleanor Hutsell, and Donna Mae Addison.
Condolences may be made at www.greenefuneralhome.net