Donald B. Reese

Donald Barry Reese Sr, the son of Donald H. Reese and Florence Elaine Carnright Reese, passed away Thursday October 10th, 2024 at Delmar Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing, after a battle with lung cancer. In his younger years, Donald loved to hunt and fish. In recent years, he discovered a love for yard sales, flea markets and antique store shopping with his granddaughter. Their motto is “One man’s junk is another man’s treasure.” He had a routine that he stuck to every day right up until July of this year, when his health would no longer allow him. He would get up every day at 6 am, get ready and be out the door in time to get to The Kerhonkson Diner by 8 am for breakfast. He had the same meal every morning, Two eggs over easy, mashed potatoes with lots of gravy, white toast with lots of butter and coffee. They always treated him well there and usually had his order in before he walked through the door. He thought highly of all of them. After breakfast, if he wasn’t helping someone with errands and chores they needed done, he would go home to watch what his granddaughter lovingly calls “old people tv” until he dozed off for his afternoon nap. He was the type of man who would give the shirt off his back to help others in need. 

Donald loved wrestling. He loved to talk to his family when they called but the one time he would hurry off the phone was if wrestling was about to come on. That excitement in his voice will be missed more than he will ever know. 

Donald was employed for many years until retirement at VAW in Ellenville. Prior to that he was employed at Iron Mountain in Rosendale and Micronetics in Kingston. 

Donald is survived by four children, Donald Reese (Elizabeth) of Kerhonkson, NY, Melissa Reese (Kevin) of Cedar Springs, MI, Don Sylvester (Kimberly) of Catskill, NY, and Debra France of Palenville, NY, seven Grandsons, Christopher Reese (Dejanira), Taevyn Reese, Riley Reese, Blake Sylvester, Nathan Myers (Hope), George France (Alexandra) and Christopher France (Demitriana), two Granddaughters, Payton Gittere and Jessica Jones, five great grandsons and four great granddaughters. He is also survived by his sister Bonnie (Elias) Abounader of Port Richey Florida, his niece Sherri Monteleone (Michael) of Delmar NY, who he adored, and several other nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his wife Denise Reese, a son, Robert Sylvester, a son in law George France and three brothers.

His Funeral Service will be held 12 noon on Wednesday at the Seamon-Wilsey Funeral Home Inc. Burial will follow in the Katsbaan Cemetery. Visitation will be held 6-8 pm on Tuesday. Further obituary information and expressions of condolence may be shared with the family at SeamonWilseyFuneralHome.com

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