COLETTE REEVES – Suffolk

Colette Reeves died on October 21, 2011. She was a resident of Suffolk, Virginia and had lived in the Hampton Roads area since 1973.

Colette was born in Orleans, France to Joseph and Julia H. Reeves. As her father was in the U.S Army, Colette lived in many places including Texas, Pennsylvania, Missouri, Kansas and Maryland before moving to Portsmouth, Virginia.

Colette graduated from Churchland High School in Portsmouth, Virginia and went on to earn the degree of Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering and Operations Research from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University at Blacksburg, Virginia in 1981. She then worked as an engineer at Newport News Shipbuilding until her retirement in 1998.

After retiring, Colette enjoyed traveling, horticulture and caring for her cats. She went back to college and was awarded the Associate in Applied Science Degree in Horticulture from Tidewater Community College in 2002. While there she was active in the Horticulture Club and travelled to Central America and Mexico. Colette was a Master Gardener and served as the Treasurer for the Suffolk Master Gardeners Association until very recently.

Colette was a Tribal Member of the Forest County Potawatomi Community near Crandon, Wisconsin. Her name, Ga ge snoke, means Everlasting Wind.

Colette is survived by her father, Joseph Reeves of Portsmouth, Virginia; her brother, Lance Reeves of Virginia Beach, Virginia; her brother, Michael Reeves and his wife, Brenda of Southern Shores, North Carolina; her brother, James Reeves and his wife, Michelle of Clermont, Florida; her niece, Lisa Reeves Speckheuer and her husband, Johannes of Virginia Beach, Virginia; her niece, Sara Reeves of Clermont, Florida; her cousin, Marie DeCosta and her husband, Denny of Ormond Beach, Florida and by other relatives and friends. Colette was predeceased by her mother, Julia Reeves of Suffolk, Virginia in 1998.

Colette’s ashes will be scattered at sea in a private ceremony as per her wishes.

The family wishes to extend a special thanks to the caregivers and support staff of Sentara Norfolk General Hospital for their kindness in Colette’s last months. Memorial donations may be made to the SPCA of your choice. Online condolences may be expressed at www.cremate.org.