Alvin Davis Reece Passes Away Alvin Davis "Doc" Reece Sr. age 85 of Tazewell was born April 3, 1921, to the late Hiram and Ida Davis Reece in the Howard's Quarter Community of Tazewell, and passed away July 27. He was a member of The New Tazewell First Baptist Church and was on the building committee during its construction. He was the founder of Reece Funeral Home and Reece Monument Company. Alvin served his country in the army during World War II. He was a member of The Evening Star Masonic Lodge # 180, Tazewell Chapter Order of the Eastern Star #232, Royal Arch Mason # 162, Kerbela Temple Shriners, Jr. Order of Mechanics, The American Legion, and a member of many local associations. He was instrumental in forming the Claiborne County football program, worked Shriner paper sales, and with the March of Dimes. Alvin was a member of the National Funeral Director's Association and a 55-year member of the Tennessee Funeral Director's Association. He was a very civic and community minded person and always put his family, friends, and community first. He graduated from Claiborne County High School, and after serving in the U.S. Army; he attended Lincoln Memorial University on the G.I. Bill where he was pitcher for the Railsplitters baseball team. He started Reece Mfg. Co. in Young's Town in Tazewell, in 1944 where he primarily built cedar furniture until 1947. In 1949, he graduated from Gupton Jones College of Mortuary Science. After graduation, he and Rufus Giles opened Giles Reece Funeral Home. Alvin became the soul owner in the early 1950's. Alvin's true passion was being and undertaker. He was an embalmer back in the days when this could be done in the home, visitation was in the home or church, and the funeral home ran the ambulance service. When he started out in this business, Alvin went door-to-door selling insurance and monuments from catalogs. Many families have reported that they would be working in their gardens or in tobacco when Alvin arrived and he would end up working side by side with them until dark, eat dinner, and many times, spend the night. Alvin grew up in simpler times when a handshake was better than any legally drafted promises. Neighbors, friends, and your community were all you had besides your family, and were much more valued than they often are today. His family knew that people appreciated him because they and their many descendants continued to bring him fresh vegetables from their gardens throughout his entire lifetime. Whenever there was any time of harvest, whatever was in season could always be found at Alvin and Bobbie's home. Alvin had a work ethic that is nearly unheard of these days. He ran Reece Funeral Home and Monument Co. long after losing his first leg to diabetes, and never ceased his input, advice, and concern long after losing his second leg. Alvin's wife of 63 years, Bobbie Dalton Reece, worked beside him in both businesses and they raised three children. Keeping the family owned and operated tradition, his son, Alvin Davis Reece Jr., and his grandson, Alvin Davis Reece III, own and operate Reece Funeral Home and Valley Chapel. His son, Mike, owns and operates Reece Monument Co., with the help of his sons, Michael and Robert. He also has a daughter, Sunny Sue Bunch, 7 grandchildren, one of whom preceded him in death (Wendy Traci Gibson Posey), and 5 great grand children. Alvin, which many name origin books define as "friend to all," truly lived up to his name. He loved his family and friends deeply, was greatly loved in return, and will be missed by many.