MELVIN KEITH RESER

Melvin Keith Reser, 85, of Springfield passed away Saturday, March 18, 2023, surrounded by loved ones in his home. Reser was born on Oct. 7, 1937, in Hugoton, Kan., the son of John Bernard and Grace Louise (Hoskinson) Reser.
Reser graduated from Humansville High School in 1955. He was an outstanding basketball player while in high school. Once he graduated, he chose to enlist in the United States Navy in 1955.
When he left the Navy in 1958, he came back to Missouri and started a courtship on Halloween of 1958 with Anna (Kathy) Reser (Rains). They quickly were inseparable and they were married on April 24, 1959. To this union two sons were born, Ronald Reser and Robert Reser.
Reser worked at A&M as a telephone technician until 1961. After leaving A&M, he started his career at Empire District Electric Company. He held many positions over the years, including lineman in Republic, meter-reader in Ozark, foreman in Bolivar and Republic, and then area supervisor in Bolivar. He retired from Empire in 1997 but you would still find him looking at and watching the power lines as he drove down the road.

Reser is survived by his wife Anna (Kathy) Reser; sons Ronald Reser, of Battlefield and Robert “Robbie” (Tammy) Reser, of Quincy; four grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; brother Johnny Reser (Donna), of Raymore, and sister Betty Edmonson, of Azle, Texas; special sisters-in-law, Evelyn Keller, of Flemington, and Betty Hughes, of Bolivar; numerous family and friends.

Reser was preceded in death by his parents, John and Grace; sisters, Ima Jean Degraffenreid, Peggy Blevins, and Marjorie Brown; brother Wayne Reser; father- and mother-in-law Alva and Alpha Rains; and daughter-in-law Jerri Reser.
In lieu of flowers, make donations to the American Alzheimer’s foundation.