Gwendolyn “Gwen” Jean Reynolds, age 80, of Coffeyville went home to be with Jesus, her Lord and Savior, on Wednesday, December 16, 2020, at the home of her daughter, Lynette Wherrell, with her daughters, Lynette and Michelle by her side.
Gwen was born on November 2, 1940, to Jack and Mayme Craig in Poteau, Oklahoma. She was the oldest of 6 girls and 2 boys.
She attended Poteau schools and graduated from Poteau High School in 1958. While in high school, Gwen participated in Glee Club, Pep Club, and the Distributive Education Club. After high school, Gwen attended Carl Albert Junior College and Northeastern State University, where she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education in the Spring of 1962.
Gwen first taught elementary school in Grand Junction, Colorado. She then moved to Caney, Kansas, where she met her future husband, Harold Reynolds at the Caney laundromat in the Spring of 1967. Gwen then joined a bowling team to get to know Harold better. For their first date, Harold took Gwen flying in an airplane. The couple were married on December 27,1967, at the First Christian Church in Poteau, Oklahoma, and made their home in Caney. They had two daughters and one son, all of whom were born at Caney Hospital. Gwen and Harold were members of the First Christian Church in Caney.
Once their children began to arrive, Gwen took a break from teaching and babysat out of the home until 1979, when Harold and Gwen moved their family to Coffeyville, Kansas. They then joined the Tyro Christian Church, where they both belonged to the Tried-and-True Sunday School Class and the Joy Group.
Gwen went back to teaching after moving to Coffeyville and taught elementary students until retiring from Oklahoma Union in May of 2007.
In addition to church, Gwen enjoyed reading her Bible, traveling with family, and watching her grandchildren and great grandsons grow.
Survivors include her two daughters - Michelle Stoughton (Jim) of Memphis, Indiana and Lynette Wherrell of Coffeyville; a son - Craig Reynolds (Trisha) of Hobbs, New Mexico; 10 grandchildren - Lauren Harrington (Dillon), Tyler Cox (Katelyn), Tandi Cox, Matthew Standridge (Raegan), Brett Stoughton, Kelsey Stoughton, Taylor Vaughan, Miah Reynolds, Clayton Reynolds, and Chase Reynolds; two great-grandsons - Bentley and Baker Harrington; four sisters – Sharon Hickman, Patricia Ballard (Don), Jackie Slone (Tony), Susie Hutton (Dennis); two brothers – Bob Craig (Kathy) and Jim Craig (Jessie); sister-in-law Cheryl Means; brother-in-law, Joe Harwell, several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Harold Reynolds; parents, Jack and Mayme Craig; sister, Becky Harwell; granddaughter, Parker Wherrell; son-in-law, David Wherrell; brother-in-law’s Jackie Meyers and Don Hickman.
Due to COVID, a Celebration of Life service will be held at a later date. A private family Graveside Service will take place in Fairview Cemetery in Coffeyville.
Friends may call on Tuesday, December 22, 2020 from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the David W. Barnes Funeral Home in Coffeyville.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions to Tyro Christian Church’s Preschool or Children’s Ministries, Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice, Coffeyville Friends of Animals (CFA) in Coffeyville, KS, AWOL Animal Shelter in Independence, KS, and/or Salvation Army. Contributions may be left with or mailed in care of David W. Barnes Funeral Home, 306 North Cline Road, Coffeyville, KS 67337.
To leave a message for the family online, visit www.dwbfh.com
David W. Barnes Funeral Home in Coffeyville will be in charge of arrangements.
