Mrs. Laverne Watson Watson Reichelt

FORT WORTH -- LaVerne Reichelt, 96, passed away Monday, April 14, 2014.

She requested no service of any kind, but her ashes to be scattered in East Texas.

Memorials: Donations in her name may be sent to Ridglea United Methodist Church, 6036 Locke, Fort Worth, Texas 76116.

Born in Kempner on Dec. 4, 1917, LaVerne attended schools in West Texas and later in East Texas. She was the youngest of five children of a Methodist preacher and his wife, and moved with her family every two to three years when her father was invited to lead a new congregation, as was the church's custom at that time. Mrs. Reichelt graduated from high school in Pittsburg and attended what was then Texas Wesleyan College.

She met her future husband, Ed Reichelt, while home from college visiting her parents in Buna. The couple married and went on to share 55 years together, until Mr. Reichelt's passing in 1992.

During World War II, Mrs. Reichelt embarked on a secretarial career and later in Fort Worth, while her husband practiced law, she worked at Horner Box Company. She took an active role in professional women's organizations and was named Secretary of the Year by a group of local business leaders. In the 1960s, Mr. and Mrs. Reichelt lived in Buna and Kirbyville, where she managed her husband's law offices. At that time, she also became involved in the United Methodist Church's Texas Conference, serving as the first VP of the United Methodist Women of the Conference. After the couple's retirement to Gilmer, Mrs. Reichelt continued her activities with the church and participated in the Gilmer Women's Club as well. Following her husband's death, she returned to Fort Worth, where she resided in independent living in Broadway Plaza for 19 years, enjoying the many activities there. She was active almost until the end.

She was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, two brothers and two sisters.

Survivors: Her daughter, Mona Bailey (Tom) of North Richland Hills; granddaughters, Karen Brennan (Matt) of Keller and Dr. Dana Bailey of Bend, Ore.; and granddaughters, Elle Wildhagen of Ventura, Calif., and Maddie Brennan of Keller.