In going through some old letters my husbands grandfather, John Findley Reece, wrote to his mother, father and family I found a letter (without the envelope - of course) written October 16, 1906. John was born in Greene County MO to David Crockett Reece and wife Rachael Rebecca Ruddick. After David's dad, Jesse Andrew Reece, died David and family moved back to Dekalb county Alabama. I believe this letter was written to David and Rachael (Ruddick) Reece. "Dear Father & Mother With pain mingle with sorrow that I send you the Few words Deth comin our Famly and tuck from us our middle Boy we cald him Reece We are all we as can and hope you the same Your as Ever R Y Whittenburg Stinson MO" Included in the stack of old letters were two clippings - no dates or anything. "ASLEEP IN JESUS Reece Whittenburg, son of R Y and M S Whittenburg, was born Oct 14, 1898 and died Oct 1, 1906, after an illness of only a few days. Little Reece was a bright, sweet child, and it was indeed sad to give him up, but our heavenly father knoweth best, and the Master was said, ' Of such is the kingdom of heaven;' therefore, parnets, sorrow not as those who have no hope, but feel that your little one has been taken from the earthly fold to the heavenly one, and while he cannot come back to you, you can go to him. May the blessings of God abide with the parents, brothers, and sisters, and some glad day may they meet their loved one in that 'house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens' M E S" and "Contributed in Memory Reece, son of Mr. and Mrs R Y Whittenburg near Stinson, died Sunday night a 1 o'clock age 8 years 11 months and 16 days. He had been afflicted with throat trouble for seven years caused by measles. He was bad only a week and during that time very thing possible was done. Monday evening we followed the remains to the Rays Springs cemetery where he was laid to rest. A father, mother, four brothers and five sisters are left to mourn. A touching scene was the grave decorated with flowers by Hattie Powell and the Wiseheart girls - A Neighbor." Maybe this can connect the Missouri Reeces with those from Tennessee and north Alabama. Doris Mayer Reece