Wade Reece

Waynesville-Wade L. Reece, age 59, of 128 Timothy Lane, died on Wednesday, June 21, 2006 at Mission Hospital from injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident. A native of Blairsville, Georgia, he had lived in Haywood County since 1958. He was the son of Roe C. Reece of Waynesville and the late Wilma J. Phillips Reece. He was also preceded in death by a brother, Jesse Charles Reece. He was a 1966 graduate of Waynesville Township High School. He had a significant football career playing on the 1965 State Champion Team. He was honored as All Conference and All State, and was selected to play in the Shrine Bowl in 1966. After graduation, he joined the US Marine Corps where he played football for the Marine Corps in Quantico, Virginia. He served a tour of duty in Vietnam and returned to Haywood County. He owned several businesses in Atlanta, Gatlinburg and Haywood County. At the time of his death, he was the publisher of the Smoky Mountain Living magazine and operated the Quality Inn in Maggie Valley. He was active on several tourism boards in Haywood County including the Maggie Valley Chamber of Commerce and was instrumental in establishing numerous events and festivals promoting tourism in Haywood County. In addition to his father, he is survived by his wife, Beth Robinson Reece; two sons, Grant Christopher Reece and wife, Carla, of Waynesville and Patrick Brian Reece and wife, Becky, of Lake Wylie, SC; two brothers, Gary L. Reece of Maggie Valley and Larry W. Reece of Gatlinburg, TN; five grandchildren, Jessie, Tucker, Ben, Brittany, and Dylan Reece; and nieces, Nichole and Coty Reece. A memorial service will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, June 25, 2006 at Long's Chapel United Methodist Church with Reverend Rob Fuquay, Reverend Erma Bond, and Father Frank Doyle officiating. The family will receive friends from 6:00 until 9:00 p.m. on Saturday evening at Wells Funeral Home of Waynesville. Memorials may be made to the Wade Reece Festival Grounds Memorial Fund, c/o United Community Bank, 165 N. Main Street, Waynesville, NC 28786.

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