Mary Esther (Harvey) Reese-Gaul, the daughter of Newman A. Harvey & Gertrude E. Shirley. She married first to Lloyd "John" Reese and second to William H. Gaul. She was a loving mother to Lloyd, Harold, and MaryRuth Reese. Mary was a faithful Christian, known for her generosity, honesty, compassion, righteousness and love her entire life until she departed at the age of 78 on September 22, 1988. She was buried with her second husband, Bill Gaul, who predeceased her by 8 years, at Willow Glen Cemetery in Dryden, New York. (Photo courtesy of Sandy Jackson).
From The Cortland Standard, Thursday, 22 Sep 1988:
“Mrs. Mary E. Reese Gaul, 78, of 260 Main St., Extension, Freeville, N.Y., died Sept. 22, 1988 at Cortland (N.Y.) Memorial Hospital. She was born March 16, 1910 in Newark Valley, the daughter of Newman and Gertrude Shirley Harvey and was a long time area resident. Mrs. Gaul had been employed as a housekeeper at Cornell University. Surviving are two sons, Harold Reese of McLean and Lloyd Reese of Lakewood, N.J., a daughter Maryruth Reese Teeter of Locke; 10 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren, several nieces, nephews and cousins. Services will be held Saturday at 2 p.m. at the Perkins Funeral Home, Dryden, with the Rev. Robert Richardson of the Groton Assembly of God officiating. Interment will be in Willow Glen Cemetery, Dryden. Friends may call Friday from 7 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to the Freeville Fire Dept. Rescue Squad, Freeville, N.Y. 13068.”
Mary's second husband, Bill Gaul, had died eight years prior, in 1980 in Ithaca, Tompkins County, New York. His obituary, provided by Sandy (Teeter) Jackson, reads:
“William Gaul Sr. FREEVILLE - William H. Gaul Sr., 83 of 260 Main St. Extension, Freeville, died Wednesday at the Lakeside Nursing Home, Ithaca, following a long illness. Mr. Gaul was born Nov. 24, 1897, in Bloomsburg, Pa., the son of Luke and Effie May Vanderburg Gaul. He was employed as a custodian in the maintenance department at Cornell University for 21 years, retiring in 1962. He was a former resident of Caroline and was a member of Caroline Lodge No. 681, F&AM. Surviving are his widow, Mary Harvey Reese Gaul of Freeville; a son, William Gaul Jr., also of Freeville; a daughter, Mrs. Mae Sofas of Cortland; three grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; two stepsons, Lloyd Reese of Lakewood, N.J., and Harold Reese of McLean; a stepdaughter, Mrs. Maryruth Teeter of Locke; 10 step-grandchildren and a sister, Mrs. Loretta Hunt of Lakeside Nursing Home, Ithaca. Services will be held Saturday at 2 p.m. at the Perkins Funeral Home, Dryden, with Rev. William Foster, pastor of the First Assembly of God Church of Ithaca officiating. Interment will be in Willow Glen Cemetery, Dryden. Friends may call tonight from 7-9 at the funeral home. Members of Caroline Masonic Lodge will conduct services at 8 tonight at the funeral home.”
For a compilation of records, photos, and data about Mary's ancestry going back 14 generations, see "Reese Family Record".
