Search Archived Marriage Records
Date of these obituaries: 08-29-2003
Jean Reis, arts supporter who preserved Music Hall
Although she didn't play a musical instrument herself, Jean Scherer Reis loved classical music.
Whenever Music Hall in Cincinnati opened its doors, you could usually find her there, said friend and advisor Charles Stephens of Covington.
The Hyde Park resident always had her car radio tuned to WGUC, which plays classical music. "I don't think it would play on any other station, " Stephens said.
Ms. Reis, who died Thursday at 79, was a longtime supporter of the arts community in Cincinnati. She co-founded the Society for the Preservation of Music Hall, and served on the boards of other arts organizations.
Born July 6, 1924, in Cincinnati, she graduated from Withrow High School. She volunteered for the Brownies and Girl Scouts until she started working for University Hospital.
In 1974, she became secretary to J. Ralph Corbett, a local philanthropist. Ms. Reis became a member of the board of trustees for the Corbett Foundation, and also its executive director.
Founded in 1955 by Corbett and his wife, Patricia, the foundation has since contributed millions of dollars to local organizations, primarily arts organizations.
In 1996, the foundation created the $2 million Jean S. Reis Endowment for technical theater at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. Ms. Reis was the vice president of the foundation endowment at the time.
Ms. Reis enjoyed a bubbling personality, Stephens said. She liked to have a good laugh and enjoyed being with people.
In her younger years, she worked as a runway model for H & S Pogue, a department store at the corner of Fourth and Race streets in Cincinnati.
"She was a very fine lady, " Stephens said.
She is survived by a son, James Jay Reis of North Carolina; two daughters, Julie Reis Sutton of Grosse Pointe, Mich., and Susan Reis Valentine of Durham, N.C.; and two grandchildren.
There will be a memorial service at Hillside Chapel in Cincinnati at a later date. The body was cremated. Swindler and Currin Funeral Home in Latonia is in charge of the arrangements.
Memorials are suggested to the Society for the Preservation of Music Hall, 1241 Elm St., Cincinnati, Ohio, 45202.
Gertrude Beckerich, 93, of Florence, died Wednesday at Villaspring Care Center, Erlanger. She was a retired proofreader with Southwest Publishing Co. and a member of St. Paul Church, Florence.
Her husband, Carl F. Beckerich, died in 1976.
Survivors include daughters, Joan Nienaber of Walton and Judy Sheridan of Cincinnati; brothers, Arthur Burkhart of Huber Heights and James Burkhart of Villa Hills; three grandchildren and a great-grandchild.
Memorial Mass of Christian burial will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Paul Church. Memorials are suggested to Hospice of Northern Kentucky, 1403 Alexandria Pike, Fort Thomas, Ky. 41075. Stith Funeral Home, Florence, is handling arrangements.
Christine Overbay Carter, 70, of Florence, died Thursday at St. Elizabeth Medical Center South, Edgewood. She was a forklift operator with Stretch & Sew, and a member of Kento-Boo Baptist Church, Elsmere.
Survivors include sons, David Carter of Dry Ridge and Dennis Carter of Williamstown; a daughter, Debbie Hancock of Florence; a brother, Buddy Overbay of Verona; sisters, Martha B. Tomlin of Independence, Elesa Beach of Walton and Margie McKinley of Florence; eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 3 p.m. Sunday at Hamilton-Stanley Funeral Home, Verona. Visitation will begin there at 1 p.m. Burial will be in New Bethel Cemetery, Verona.
Idelle Roy Clayton, 76, of Fort Mitchell, died Monday at Villaspring Care Center, Erlanger.
She was a physical therapist with Baptist Convalescent Center, Newport, a member of Oak Island Baptist Church, Morning View, and toastmistress of the Fort Mitchell Grandmother's Club.
Her husbands, James F. Clayton and Alvis Roy; and a son, David Roy, all preceded her in death.
Survivors include daughters, Brenda Clifton and Sharon Klare, both of Bromley; a brother, Herbert Woodward of Findlay, Ohio; a sister, Dora Trautwine of Hillsboro, Ohio; seven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Services were Thursday at Ronald B. Jones Funeral Home, Ludlow.
Burial was in Highland Cemetery, Fort Mitchell.
Catherine Owens Cooper, 56, of Cincinnati, died Wednesday at St. Elizabeth Medical Center South, Edgewood. She was a homemaker.
Survivors include her husband, Clifford Cooper; daughters, Cameron Johnson and Crystal Cooper, both of Cincinnati, and Celeste Robinson of Covington; and 14 grandchildren.
Graveside services will be at 1 p.m. Tuesday at Thompson, Hall and Jordan Funeral Home, Cincinnati.
Visitation will begin there at 11 a.m. Tuesday. Burial will be in Walnut Hills Cemetery, Cincinnati.
Audrey M. Huesing, 77, of Erlanger, died Thursday at St. Elizabeth Medical Center South, Edgewood. She was a homemaker and a member of St. Henry Church, Elsmere, and the church Altar Society.
Survivors include her husband, Frank E. Huesing; daughters, Sandra M. Huesing of Erlanger, Arlene M. Trumble of Richwood, Debra M. Eckstein of Carmel, Ind., and Renee M. Chaney of Florence; a brother, Woodrow T. Russell of Covington; 18 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
Mass of Christian burial will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at St. Henry Church, Elsmere. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Monday at Linnemann Funeral Home, Erlanger. Burial will be in St. Mary Cemetery, Fort Mitchell.
Memorials are suggested to St. Henry High School, 3755 Scheben Drive, Erlanger, Ky. 41018.
Benny Theodore Pruiett, 73, of Demossville, died Wednesday at St. Elizabeth Medical Center Grant County, Williamstown. He was a retired steelworker worker with Interlake Steel, Newport, a member of Unity Baptist Church in Demossville, Masonic Lodge No. 808 and Disabled American Veterans, and a Korean War veteran.
Survivors include his wife, Betty Pruiett; a daughter, Cynthia Perkins of Demossville; a son, Benny "Peanut" Pruiett Jr. of Demossville; stepsons, Jeffrey Painter and Mark Painter, both of Bellevue; a brother, Leroy Pruiett of Dry Ridge; eight grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Fares J. Radel Funeral Home, Highland Heights. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home, with Masonic services at 7:30 p.m.
Burial will be in Evergreen Cemetery, Southgate.
Memorials are suggested to Unity Baptist Church Building Fund, 1486 Jagg Road, Demossville, Ky. 41033.
Janice Louise Bowling Schmid, 35, of Verona, drowned Tuesday in Fort Wright. She was a homemaker and a member of Bradford Lodge Order of the Eastern Star.
Survivors include her husband, Bob Schmid; sons, Charles Garnett of Latonia and John Garnett of Ludlow; a stepson, Steven Schmid of Florence; a stepdaughter, Sara Schmid of Florence; her mother, Janice Daniels Bowling of Covington; a brother, Gary Bowling of Covington; and grandmother, Demia Daniels of Morning View.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Chambers and Grubbs Funeral Home, Independence. Visitation will be from 5 to 7:30 p.m. today at the funeral home, followed by Eastern Star services.
Burial will be in Independence Cemetery.
Memorials are suggested to Charles and John Garnett Fund, in care of Chambers and Grubbs Funeral Home, P.O. Box 55, Walton, Ky. 41094.
