Gloria Louise Reece

Gloria Louise Reece passed away on a rainy early morning on May 2, 2022 at her home in Littleton, Colo. with Karsten, her eldest son, by her side. She was 72  years old.

A life-long learner who could fix everything from a quilt to a sprinkler head, Gloria was born Gloria Erikson in 1949 in Pierre, S.D., to parents Norman and Velma She grew up in Vivian and moved to Draper her senior year, graduating in 1967. She graduated from St. John McNamara School of Nursing in Rapid City, S.D. and worked in many areas of nursing, including as a pediatric nurse at the same practice where her middle son, Ryan, now sends his own boys.  

Like her parents, Gloria instilled in her children a love of wood-working, baking, piano music and repairing what is broken. Gloria knew how to make a house a home and her attention to the love and details she infused into the lives of others makes the world a more magical loving place.  Gloria was a sanctuary for friends, family, neighbors and strangers alike. She had a way of making you feel safe and heard, no matter how small or large your problem.  Her sweet sense of humor could have even the most serious person break out in a laughing fit.  Even through her own suffering, Gloria found a way to bring people together with joy and laughter.  Her beautiful quilts, pumpkin bar recipe, $2 bill scavenger hunts, her laugh, and hand-picked Christmas ornaments will be forever cherished along with all of the in-between moments.  Gloria will be dearly, dearly missed and never forgotten. 

Gloria is survived by her siblings  Cindy, Karen, Ray, Stan and Marcia; her dear sons, Karsten (Angela), Ryan (Ginny) and Derek (Meagan); her grandchildren Jalyne, Tayler, Reanne, Alyssa, Sawyer, Stella, Von, and Liam, and one on the way; and her great grandchild, Wyatt. She is also survived by two aunts; Kay Moore and Esther Cleland.