Arlene "Frankie" McGee Reece

Arlene “Frankie” McGee Reece, 76, of Morehead City, passed away on Tuesday, March 9, 2021, at Carolina East Medical Center.

Her memorial service will be held at 2 p.m., Friday, March 19, 2021, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 3608 Country Club Rd., Morehead City, NC. Friends are welcome to attend the service. In keeping with the CDC guidelines pertaining to the Coronavirus, those who are ill or at-risk (elderly, immune-compromised) are encouraged to stay home. Additionally, there will be a limit to the number of people in the building at one time, as well, those who attend will be asked to bring and wear a protective mask. Help us honor the family while practicing safe measures. Friends are also encouraged to leave words of comfort to the family through the website.

(See link below for the Service Bulletin including the Order of Service.)

Frankie was born in Winston Salem, Forsyth County, North Carolina on January 9, 1945, to the late Alice Mae Creed McGee and Franklin Hardin McGee.

Frankie attended High School in Newport News, Virginia and graduated in 1963. During her high school years, Frankie worked part time at a Drug Store where she learned her first “customer service” skills. Later, she moved to Morehead City and fell in love with Carteret County and the ‘shore’ (her favorite place to think and find peace). She later told her new husband that he needed to know upfront that he could move anywhere he wanted but she would never leave and would be here till she returned to her Heavenly Father. Rick of course chose to stay here with her.

She worked three places during her career in Morehead City and she worked approximately 10 years at each. She started at Sears Mail Order Store where she did customer service over the phone. After Sears, she met Ken Newsom, owner of the waterfront seafood restaurant Capt. Bills. Ken hired her first to work in the gift shop inside the restaurant and then he trained her to be a Manager. In this she found joy but some challenges too in training High School and College kids in hostessing and busing tables for their summer jobs. Many remember her to this day for her strictness and attention to detail but they knew she cared for them. After she left Capt. Bill’s she went to work with Belk Department store in the children’s department. Her ‘customer service’ skills really shined here, and parents and grandparents so appreciated her help with selecting clothing for their children. (A side note, Frankie always dressed “so put together” and she enjoyed looking that way.)

The most important thing Frankie said she ever did in life was to have the gospel of Jesus Christ presented to her by the missionaries of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. She quickly accepted the truths and principles of this restored gospel of Jesus Christ and was Baptized and Confirmed a member on March 18, 1972. She never looked back or wavered from its teachings and her covenants. She always shared her beliefs and principles at every opportunity because Frankie wanted others to have and experience the joy she had found.

Frankie met the love of her life and she and Rick were married and sealed for Time and all Eternity on June 6, 1981, in the Washington DC Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. This was the second most important thing that she ever did in her life and that was possible by her entering the waters of baptisms.

Frankie and Rick were not blessed with children, but she is known to hundreds of youth, young adults, missionaries and friends (both old and young) as Aunt Frankie, ‘miss’ Frankie or ‘mama’ Reece. She would do anything for her many nieces and nephews and for everyone who would let her love and mother them. She taught early morning seminary and provided rides for seminary students for many years. She was a great ‘member missionary’ and she loved to teach temple and marriage preparation classes to young singles. Her passion was temple work and family genealogy and she and Rick will be forever remembered for their many, many temple trips to carry friends who needed a ride to the temple. Frankie served in Stake and Ward Relief Societies and was a Shining example of ministering to all who came in her presence. Her card and letter writing were legendary!! She would give you words of encouragement, the food off her table, the clothes off her back. She bought extra bread each week to feed the birds and extra groceries to feed the hungry. Frankie had some “red in her hair” and some “spit” in her personality but under all that, she was as tender and loving as a kitten and the most generous lady. She will be missed and remembered.

She is survived by her husband, Richard Teel Reece of Morehead City; cousins, Becky Jones and husband George of Beaufort, Mary Blackwelder and husband Doug of Mocksville, NC, and Anya Crane and companion Keven of Virginia; sister-in-law, Hai McGee and her children, Mary, Jim, and Frank all of Texas; sister-in-law, Joan Reece Brew and husband Danny of Greenville and their 10 children, her nieces and nephews that she loved dearly.

In addition to her parents, Frankie was preceded in death by her brother, James “Jimmie” Harden McGee.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Humanitarian Aid at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, c/o Bishop David Health, 4202 Ocean Dr., Emerald Isle, NC 28594.

Family and friends are welcome to submit online condolences at www.mundenfuneralhome.net

Arrangements by Munden Funeral Home & Crematory in Morehead City, NC.