Reba Jean Mosteller Daves, 87, previously of Andrews, of Hiawassee, Ga., passed away Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2022.
Reba was born to the late Wilburn Mosteller and Belvie Morgan (Mosteller) at the Mosteller homestead on Junaluska Road, Andrews, N.C.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Martin Curtis Daves of Nantahala; her sisters, Hazel Mosteller (Neal) and husband William, Fraces Mosteller (Neal) and husband Joe, Barbara Mosteller (Parker) and husband Vaughn and Alene Mosteller (Starnes) and husband Dale; and two precious nieces and two nephews.
She is survived by her daughter, Jennifer Leigh Daves (Shepherd) and husband Doak of Liberty, Texas; her son, Jeffrey Scott Daves of South Lyon, Mich.; and several nieces and nephews living in North Carolina, Tennessee and Michigan.
Not very long after graduating high school, Reba wanted to expand her traveling adventures to somewhere so different from her hometown of Andrews. So she took off for the bright lights, big city of The Big Apple – NYC. She worked simultaneously for Palmolive Oil Co. and Macy’s Department Store. She lived off 5th Avenue, residing in the safe compound of the YWCA. She loved her time in “The Big Apple … The City that Never Sleeps!” She attended plays, musicals, learning which avenue crossed which street, the lights, the action and seeing The Radio City Rockettes perform – was her biggest, BIG time. But then, the mountains began calling her home.
Shortly after returning to these glorious mountains, Reba was courted by a young, handsome man from Nantahala – Martin Curtis Daves. He swept her off her feet, and they married in July of 1959 in Hiawassee, Ga., and honeymooned at beautiful Ruby Falls.
Martin and Reba happily welcomed a baby girl, Jennifer Leigh Daves, in Murphy, in August of 1960. During this same time, Martin was recovering in Michigan from an emergency appendectomy. (He was living in Michigan and working for FORD Motor Co.) Martin made a full recovery and traveled back to North Carolina to gather his wife and baby daughter, and brought them to Warren, Mich., to begin a new life working and living in the Midwest.
In 1964, Martin and Reba happily welcomed another new addition to their family – a little boy, Jeffrey Scott Daves. Their little family was now complete.
Reba adored her family and loved taking care of them. Her life’s main work was being a Christian wife, mother and homemaker. The family attended church every Sunday.
Reba was very gifted in many of the arts in creating a beautiful home: quilting, sewing, gardening, cooking and baking. She crocheted and sewed many of Jennifer’s elementary and junior high school clothes. The vests she hand crocheted were so on trend back in the 1970s, and for today’s modern young woman, wearing vintage is hot and her crocheted vests would today bring a pretty penny. She could bake beautiful doll cakes and create exquisite sugar, frosting embellished Easter eggs – showcasing lovely dioramas.
Reba loved being involved in her children’s school and extracurricular activities including her daughter’s Brownie troop, Girl Scouts and even their homework and spelling Bees. Many, many times she took her children to the local library for story time, and she read to them each night before their bedtime.
She worked various jobs around her children’s school calendar – part time at Sear’s Catalog, cafeteria work at FORD and being a loving, responsible caregiver to those who could not care for themselves.
The love of Reba’s life, Martin, retired from FORD after 40 years … they returned to their beloved Blue Ridge Mountains and Reba’s hometown of Andrews, N.C. But just prior to Martin’s retirement, Reba expanded her traveling wings by taking a trip of a lifetime to Europe with her daughter. They went to London, The Netherlands, Germany, France – she always wanted to visit Verdun where her Father served during World War I, and she was in awe of The Palace of Versailles and its Hall of Mirrors.
They lived a wonderful life back in the mountains – being close to family was important to them and involvement in their church. Their home church was Valleytown Baptist in Andrews, where they attended every Sunday and tried diligently to attend Wednesday evenings. They grew a large vegetable garden each year – and they kept very busy at it while canning, freezing and sharing the fruits of their harvest. Their vegetables WERE deeeelicious! Their children came to visit them as often as they could and each cherished those precious times together and those vegetables.
Camping was a big part of their family’s life back in Michigan and also when they retired back to Western N.C. Reba loved camping with her family, and she always had that refrigerator full of soups she made from scratch using all their garden vegetables, as well as baking fresh bread.
In 2013, Martin suffered a massive stroke and life changed drastically. Reba lovingly tried her best to care for him at home, for as long as she could. But, sadly at about this same time, she was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. They then decided to move into an assisted living residence in Hiawassee, Ga., hoping to resume life in these unchartered waters.
Martin passed away Sept. 5, 2017, as he was unable to overcome all the physical limitations brought on by the last stroke, and Reba continued living at the assisted living home – getting involved in playing Bingo, doing arts and crafts, participating in day trips and enjoying all the wonderful entertainment offered at “The Manor” as they lovingly called it.
Our dear Lord called Reba home on Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2022, during a very brief visit to Chatuge Medical in Hiawassee. She is having THE best reunion with her beloved Martin, her parents, her five sisters, their husbands, along with grandparents, aunts/uncles, cousins and nieces/nephews who preceded her in death. Her children SO miss her beautiful smile, fun nature, wonderful sense of humor and gentle kiss and touch – but know our time on this Earth is very small compared to the infinite time we will all be together in Heaven.
A graveside service was held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 18, at Valleytown Cemetery in Andrews. The Rev. Kenny White officiated.
In lieu of flowers, if you would like to make a personal donation to your local library in Reba’s name – as she so loved and believed in reading, she would be so happy.
Thank you, Mama, for being our Mama.
You may send tributes to the family at www.townson-rose.com.
Townson-Rose Funeral Home was in charge of all arrangements.