Perlie May Reese

Perlie May Reese, nee Lawrence, was born to Alva and Melvina Lawrence on May 4, 1921, Panama City, Panama. She was one of nine children, seven of whom preceded her in death - Eula, Iva, Iris, Gladstone, Eddie, Reggie, and Philbert. Her sister, Muriel (known as Birdie), remains.

Perlie’s parents were born on the Island of Jamaica, met each other in Panama when her father went there to work building the Panama Canal. The family later moved to La Boca on the Canal Zone, where she grew up. She met her first husband, Phillip Ward, and had two children, Etta (now Teresa), and Carlos, moved to the United States and settled in Seattle, Washington, where she met and married Lawrence Reese, in October, 1954 (68 years) who survives to mourn her passing.

Perlie was very active in the churches she attended, when she was growing up in Panama City and La Boca, as well as the First A.M.E. Church in Seattle, Washington. She was employed as a Secretary for the Boeing Airplane Company in Seattle, Washington. Prior to that, she worked for the Rhodes Department store, and although she worked in another department, she was used as a model for their clothing department. Perlie was a very classy dresser, an accomplished seamstress who made most of the clothing for herself and her daughter. After retiring from Boeing, she became an Entrepreneur, even securing a patent for an item she invented. In addition, Perlie crocheted, knitted and made quilts for family members. She also volunteered as a Teacher’s Assistant at the elementary school in her neighborhood. She was very generous with her time, talents and treasures.

Perlie and Lawrence moved to Las Vegas, Nevada, in 2017 to be closer to her daughter and other family members who could assist them as they grew older. They were residing at Avenir Memory Care at Las Vegas, when she stopped dancing. Perlie passed away very peacefully, on December 3, 2022. She was 101 years old.

She is survived by her loving husband, Lawrence, her daughter, Teresa Bass, son, Carlos Ward, grandsons: Jon Russell Bass, Robert Jay Bass, and Carlos Del Anastasio; Great-grandchildren: Maria Bass Williams, Cameron Bass; Great-Great grandchildren: Leilani Bass Williams; Tyrell Bass Williams, Kynnedy Bass Williams and Arianna DelAnastasio, as well as many nieces and nephews. Grandson, Kevin Patrick Bass and Great-grandson, Giovanni Bass Kopystenski, preceded her in death.

A visitation for Perlie will be held Friday, December 30, 2022 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM at Palm Northwest Mortuary, 6701 North Jones Blvd, Las Vegas, Nevada 89131. A funeral service will occur Friday, December 30, 2022 at 11:00 AM, 6701 North Jones Blvd, Las Vegas, Nevada 89131. A committal service will occur Friday, December 30, 2022 at 12:00 PM at Palm Northwest Cemetery, 6701 North Jones Blvd, Las Vegas, Nevada 89131. A reception will occur Friday, December 30, 2022 from 12:30 PM to 2:30 PM, 6701 North Jones Blvd, Las Vegas, Nevada 89131.

Perlie will be laid to rest in Palm Northwest Cemetery, 6701 North Jones Blvd, Las Vegas, Nevada 89131; Garden of Freedom.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.palmnorthwest.com for the Reese family.