Reece Sanders

ST. CHARLES, Mo. -- Reece Watson Sanders, 102, formerly of Cape Girardeau, passed away Thursday, April 28, 2016, at Windsor Estates in St. Charles.

He was born Jan. 16, 1914, in Scott County, Missouri, the son of Jesse Richmond and Alice Melbourn Loftin Sanders.

Reece graduated from Benton (Missouri) High School in 1931. In 1933 he began working for Woods Brothers Construction Co. on the Mississippi and Missouri rivers, eventually becoming a towboat pilot.

He and Louise Caroline Young were married Aug. 12, 1939, in Brownville, Nebraska, and remained together for 73 years, until Louise passed away Aug. 16, 2012.

During World War II, he and Louise relocated to Oakland, California, where he worked as a welder on 10,000-ton wartime cargo ships. As the war ended, they moved back to Nebraska and then later settled permanently in Cape Girardeau.

Reece began piloting for Marine Transportation Co., headquartered in Dyersburg, Tennessee, on the Motor Vessel Kay-D. From 1956 to 1960, he served as relief captain and later captain for Missouri Barge Line on the Motor Vessel E.E. Smith. At that point, he returned to Marine Transportation as captain and operations manager of the Kay-D, towing petroleum products on the Mississippi, Illinois, Ohio and Cumberland rivers.

In the late 1970s, he began to retire and took up golf. He thoroughly enjoyed not only the game, but also making many new friends at the local courses. In addition, he and Louise spent numerous memorable days in their motor home crisscrossing the country.

Survivors include two sons, Laurence (Cathy) Sanders of St. Charles and David (Donna) Sanders of Cape Girardeau; five grandchildren, Doug Sanders of St. Charles, Marcia (Chad) Voges of St. Peters, Missouri, Trenton Sanders of St. Charles and Kristyn Sanders and Ashlei (John) Sterling of Cape Girardeau; and eight great-grandchildren.

In addition to his wife, he was preceded in death by his parents; brothers Elmer, Garnett and George Sanders; and sisters Velma Hodgkiss, Lila Bradshaw, Grace Heise, Irene Hente, Alice Julian, Jane Thompson and infant sister Jesse Opal Sanders.

A memorial service will be at 11:30 a.m. May 16 at Cape County Memorial Park Mausoleum in Cape Girardeau, with the Rev. Donny Ford officiating.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the church or charity of choice.