Fred Reese Dies At 98

They called Fred Reese Mr. Aviation, a man who gave astronaut Gordon Cooper his first airplane ride, a ferry pilot during World War II and manager of the Shawnee Airport (OK).

He was an accomplished balloon aviator and beloved by friends and family alike. His kids called him Poppy because they heard some of the younger pilots at Shawnee call him "Pappy."

Even after he reached his late 70s, Reese was known to climb out of bed and gas up thirsty airplanes in the middle of the night. "One of the things Poppy would always do, even up to 78 years old, was, if someone called in the middle of the night wanting fuel, he'd always go sell it to them," said his daughter, Nancy Reese Barrett. "He was afraid if he didn't, they would try to go to Seminole or Ada and not make it. That was a principle of his -- if someone wanted fuel, he would get up and go give it to them.

"He was a very humble person, a generous spirit," said Barrett, who now lives in Alaska. "He was intrigued by just about everything."

I feel lucky to have been given that kind of strength, integrity, humor, joy and intellectual curiosity," Reese's son John said Friday, in an interview with the Shawnee News-Star. "My life is full and it's because of him. The whole world is open to me to do anything I want to do. That's a hell of a gift."

Reese and his wife Maxine were married for 73 years before she died at age 97 in November. Pappy didn't have to wait long to join the love of his life. He passed away on Christmas Eve.

Fred Reese -- Mr. Aviation -- has gone west. Happy landings, Pappy.

FMI: www.shawneenet.com