Reynolds

BILLINGS – Our loving and caring Mother, Jean Marie Blair Reynolds, is now with God in Heaven.
Born to Floyd and Irene Blair in Grand Rapids, Mich., Mom was the third of four children; two brothers Earl and John (Jack) and sister Joyce. Mom had a wonderful childhood. She attended Catholic grade school and Catholic Central High School in Grand Rapids. Upon graduation in 1946, Mom did some traveling, including a trip to San Francisco. She got a job at Bell Telephone.
Around 1949 Mom met Dad, Robert Roy Reynolds, and they were married in November 1951. Mom became a mother in 1953 to Robert Blair, and later in 1955 to Teryl Ann (Terry), in 1960 to Charlene Mary (Charlie), and in 1965 to Jill Elaine. After Robert and Terry were born she became a full time stay at home Mom, and that’s how we remember her. She was a cooking and cleaning machine. They hadn’t invented the term “multi-tasking” yet, but Mom could do it all and most of the time many things at once. Dad was the provider, Mom the wonderful homemaker.
Mom was a beautiful woman who often went to the hairdresser or beauty salon, but I don’t remember her ever liking the results.
In 1958 Mom and Dad bought land in the country, Lowell, Mich., and had a nice home built, doing much of the work themselves. It was very nice and the site of many fond memories, including joyous Christmas celebrations, attended by Gramma and Grampa Reynolds and Aunt Elaine who was our second mother. In the late 60s and early 70s, after a few summer vacations “Out West” including Colorado, Wyoming and Montana that often turned into some hunting excursions for Dad. Mom and Dad, mostly Dad, decided to move to Montana.
While living in Colstrip, after Dad secured employment from I.B.E.W. Eectrical Union #532, in which he later became a member, Mom and Dad would venture out on weekends to experience Montana and seek a permanent home site. Settling outside Columbus, Mont., where they once again, in their 50s, built a very nice home, doing much of the work themselves, it fit Dad to a “T” and Mom added all the finishing touches, turning it into a wonderful home, where everyone was welcome.
After many years of retirement and Dad passing away in 2003, Mom continued taking care of their place, mowing the lawn, planting flowers that the deer always ate, washing her car, painting, vacuuming, washing windows and clothes, which she always hung on the clothes line outside in the summer. She did all this well into her 80s. Mom started to show signs of dementia and moved to Meadowlark Assisted Living in Columbus and with the disease advancing she moved to St. John’s Lutheran Home in Billings, both of which she received wonderful care.
Mom is survived by her son Robert of Fromberg, daughter Terry (Jim) Nowak of Traverse City, Mich., son-in-law Mark Geldersma (late daughter Charlene), daughter Jill Reynolds, and grandchildren Rebecca and Darren Harrington, Augustus and Joshua Geldersma.
A very special thank you to Father Masi, Pastor of the Bridger, Fromberg and Joliet Catholic Church and to all the wonderful people at St. Johns that became our extended family.
Cremation has taken place; a celebration of life will be held at 8 a.m., Dec. 10, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Columbus. Graveside service for Robert and Jean will be in the Spring/Summer of 2018.
Smith Funeral Chapel-Laurel is in charge of arrangements.