Reva Nell Megeath

She was born in Newton, Kansas, into a US Air Force family. Her parents, Warren and Francis Hurley, raised Reva and three other daughters - Tina, Gina, and Dara. Warren's duties, first serving in the Burma Hump in World War II, eventually took them to Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana. The family had settled into a home on Shamrock Drive in Bossier City, where everyone (like the Richards: friends for life) knew Reva. She had many fun adventures with some abusive moments there, but she had her hero, her Aunt Mamie Ruth ("Moochie"). She might have moved to be with Aunt Moochie but rather stayed to be with her younger sisters (Dara and Gina). Reva attended Bossier High School during the integration times. Then she put herself through college graduating from Nursing studies.

She met her first husband, Captain Ralph Wempe, in 1974; she eventually had two children - Jennifer and Jessica. Their military family moved several times; from Louisiana to California to Germany to DC and back to Louisiana after military retirement. Throughout these assignments, Reva did the overboard Mom things while also nursing. She also managed to earn her Master's in Nursing Degree from Loma Linda University (and taking her exams onboard the Queen Mary). In Louisiana, Reva became the patient as she incurred breast cancer - about the same time Jennifer was involved in a car accident; the two had a long recovery at home.

Reva's first marriage ended in divorce as a new century was about to begin. Reva soon remarried Tom Megeath, a retired Air Force officer doing systems consultant work for the Intelligence Community. They bought a home in Virginia and, of course, Reva took on a nursing job at the closest hospital. She also adopted some Yorkies (and a Chihuahua). The social/cultural life in their Virginia/DC area was fun for her.

Reva and Tom moved to Tampa, Florida in 2004. Reva bought a cookie shop that was soon overcome by hurricanes. The good news from that was her daughter Jennifer had moved in to help with the shop, and Jennifer had her daughter Phoebe with her. Reva and Tom adopted Phoebe as their own daughter when Jennifer's health was deteriorating. Reva's own health issues continued and then a serious fall resulted in heart problems (add a pacemaker), exacerbated back problems, and Parkinson's disease. For too many years, she fought off so many horrible health issues such that she looked indestructible. This last collection of major illnesses finally broke that chain of successes.

Always the consummate nurse of thirty-five years, Reva was highly skilled in Flight Nursing in moving critical patients to trauma centers both in Germany and Louisiana, in Operating rooms where doctors preferred her assistance, in triage of the wounded and dying US Marines from the Lebanon bombing, in Emergency Rooms with some in very dangerous urban environments (with policemen by her side), etc. She loved being a nurse and had wanted to regain her health to be able to do remote or administrative nursing support.

She was so personable with everyone. In the many hospital and rehab stays, the techs, the aides, the nurses, the other patients, and doctors all loved to visit her. She loved people, especially supporting her family and friends - even the casual passer by. She even dressed with sparkly things which, with her smile, would attract and entertain any and all babies and kids, she rocked drug addicted babies to their deaths and encouraged the infirm to hold on. Not just good with people: she raised dogs for sale, but mostly loved to keep her own dogs and cats close and safe.

She is survived by her husband Tom of 23 years; Gina, the last of the Hurley pack; her three daughters, Jennifer, Jessica (her husband Kyle) and Phoebe; her stepson Sean; her grandchildren Lydia, Hank and Phoebe; seven nieces and nephews with their wonderful families; and many many good friends - All of whom she loved so dearly!

Reva passed on October 8th, 2023 into God's Hands.

A glorious shining brilliant sunrise was beheld above her that morning.

She will be laid to rest at the Florida National Cemetery at Bushnell on October 20, 2023.