Reta May (Daniel) Ice born August 11, 1949, to Loys & Imogene (McKinney) Daniel in Waynesville Missouri. She passed away at her home October 2, 2024, at the age of 75. Reta was united in marriage to Paul Anderson Ice on June 22, 1975. Together they had two sons, Darren Paul Ice and Travis Anderson Ice.
She attended Brown Hill School in Houston, Missouri and graduated from Marshalltown High School in Marshalltown, Iowa. She then continued her education at Evangel University graduating with a bachelor’s degree in education. She taught at Houston Elementary School for several years retiring due to health reasons. Her love for teaching children prompted her return as a substitute for many years and assist granddaughter Racheal with homeschooling.
She attended a few churches in the area but had been a member at Ozark Baptist Church for several years, serving in a variety of ways. She was part of the team that started up the Drive-Thru Christmas, loved on families by cooking for them during times of joy and sadness, taught children in children’s church and loved keeping the church looking pretty by sewing wall hangings and building flower arrangements.
Reta was always busy doing something. Even though she was a full-time teacher she helped with milking cows and feeding the hay crews her famous hayfield pizza. She was a tireless caretaker, whether it be family members in poor health, or babysitting grandkids, great-grandkids, or any other kids that came to her house. She loved to cook all kinds of meals and treats for people, always making too much food for family holidays and church gatherings. She enjoyed spending time with her sister Joyce selling their delicious goodies at the farmer’s market. There was always an open invitation to her swimming pool. She loved family game nights that would include heated games of wahoo and dominoes or any other game that allowed her to spend time with her family. She loved her grandkids and great grandkids fiercely and attended and supported them in all their games, livestock fairs, Pursifull Academy adventures, supporting their 4H endeavors and other activities any chance she got. She may not have always known what was happening in the game, but she cheered them on in all aspects of their lives with all she had. She also celebrated with her babysitting kids too in all their accomplishments.
Reta was preceded in death by her parents, Loys & Imogene Daniel, husband Paul, brother Terry Daniel, sister Merna Brown and brother Gerald Daniel. She is survived by her sister Joyce Dunigan, son Darren, his wife Renee and their children Racheal Pursifull and husband Austin, and Abby Ice, son Travis, his wife Christel and their children Olivia and Elias. Great grandchildren Tucker and Raelynn Pursifull, several nieces and nephews, and “adopted children”.
Her absence will leave a void in all our lives that we can’t fully fathom right now, but we are thankful to have the peace that she was reunited with her beloved husband and in the presence of her Heavenly Father.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Reta’s memory may be made to the Houston FFA Greenhouse.
