Jess (Tubby) Harrison Reynolds, 88, Harrisonville, passed away Monday, Jan. 31, 2022 at his daughter’s home in Independence. Donnie Dean Reynolds, 86, passed away Feb. 3, 2022, also at her daughter’s home in Independence.

Jess was born January 27, 1934 in El Dorado Springs, a son of Harrison Wilbur and Elsie Marie (Blystone) Reynolds. He grew up in El Dorado Spring and was a 1952 graduate and class president of El Dorado Springs High School. Jess married Donnie Dean Gordon on Nov. 8, 1952 in El Dorado Springs. They moved to Independence in 1968 where they lived until moving to Harrisonville.

Jess was a Journeyman Wireman and had worked for Mackay Electric in Kansas City for 34 years. He was a member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 124 for 43 years. After retiring, Jess enjoyed being a substitute bus driver, especially for band trips, until he retired from that at 71. Jess was baptized into the RLDS Church in Coal Hill in 1946 and was currently a member and Elder of the Harrisonville Community of Christ Church. He was the church Financial Officer from 1970-1999. He served as a Boy Scout leader and was an Honorary Warrior of the Tribe of Mic-O-Say. Jess had served on the board of Water District #4 from 1986-2015.

Jess was preceded in death by his parents; two sons, Dennis Dean Reynolds and Thad Matthew Reynolds; sister, Wanda Biddlecom; and one brother, Bill Reynolds.

Donnie was born July 11, 1935 in Stockton, a daughter of John Bert and Louis Lois (Curtis) Gordon. She was a graduate of El Dorado Springs High School. Donnie was baptized in 1961 with her eight-year-old son, Dennis, into the R.L.D.S. Church in Independence. She served many roles at her church: Skylark and Oriole leader (girls’ programs); Women’s Director and Young Adult Leader with her husband. She was a room mother for all five children throughout the years, all while working for the Harrisonville Schools, driving a school bus from 1975-2006, when she retired.

Donnie was preceded in death by her parents, Bert and Lois Gordon; husband, Jess (Tubby) Reynolds on Jan. 31, 2022; two sons, Dennis Dean Reynolds and Thad Matthew Reynolds; four sisters, Flossie Byerly, Dorothy Reed, Alice Slichenmeyer and Mabel Gordon; and two brothers, Pete Gordon and John Gordon.

Jess and Donnie are survived by one son, John “Chad” Harrison Reynolds (Andrea), Harrisonville; two daughters, Jessica Maday, Independence and Tracy Morelock (Eric), Benson, AZ; 11 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren and one on the way.

Services for Jess and Donnie were held Feb. 5, at the Atkinson Funeral Home in Harrisonville with burial in Coal Hill Cemetery, El Dorado Springs. Memorial contributions may be made to the Coal Hill Cemetery c/o the funeral home.

Arrangements-Atkinson Funeral Home, Harrisonville, MO, 816-380-3268; atkinsonfuneralhome.com.

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