Muriel "Mims" K. Reaves

Mims Reaves was born on February 24, 1917, in El Paso, Texas, to Fred and Myrtle Dougherty. She was christened Muriel Kathryn Dougherty but her father called her ‘Mims’ because he said Muriel Is My Sweetheart and the name stuck. When she was a junior in high school she met her future husband, James E. Reaves.

After graduating from El Paso High in 1935 they were married on July 6, 1935, in Pickens, South Carolina. They were still married 72 years later when he passed away in 2007 after losing his battle with cancer.

Jim and Mims had four children; James Ernest Jr., who died as an infant in 1937; James Ralph, who was born in El Paso in 1938; Virginia Ann, who was born in Atlanta in 1944 while Jim was serving in the Navy during WWII; and Jefferson Davis, who was born in Ridgecrest, CA, in 1946.

Jim and Mims traveled extensively because of his work in construction. Over the course of their marriage they managed to live in 15 different states (and visit most of the rest), as well as live in three foreign countries. They also made two round the world trips.

Mims was a devoted wife and mother and welcomed all into her home. She made friends easily and participated actively in the International Women’s Club when living overseas. After her husband passed away in 2007 she moved to Colorado, living with her son Jeff and his wife Annette.

Mims is survived by her three children: Ralph Reaves and his wife Jeanette (Kingsland, TX); Ann Brown and her husband Terry (Concord, CA); and Jeff Reaves and his wife Annette (Timnath, CO); and her nephew Dave Reaves and his wife Kathi (Albuquerque, NM), as well as eleven grandchildren, 23 great grandchildren and three great-great grandchildren.

Mims passed away on August 4, 2022. She was a member of Faith Baptist Church in Longmont (now FaithPoint Baptist Church). A memorial service will be held at Ahlberg Funeral Chapel in Longmont at 11:00am on Tuesday, August 9th. Funeral services will be held at the National Cemetery in Santa Fe at a future date.

Please make donations to Shriners Hospital in lieu of flowers.