Mary-Frances Reese

Mary-Frances (Ramirez) Reese passed away peacefully at home on the Reese Family farm in Peterson, Iowa, on September 24, 2026, at the age of 73.

Born October 10, 1952, in Tucson, Arizona, Mary-Frances - known affectionately as “M-F” and “Hula - was the daughter of Arnold and Flora Ramirez. She grew up in the Sunland–Tujunga area of Los Angeles, California, where she graduated from Notre Dame Preparatory High School in 1969, at the age of 16.

Music was a lifelong part of Mary-Frances’s life. She began playing piano at the age of eight and enjoyed playing throughout her life. She eventually shared that gift with her community by playing piano for Sunday services at the United Methodist Church in Peterson, Iowa.

In 1970, Mary-Frances led the Glendale (California) Youth Band as Drum Major, winning the First Sweepstakes Award at the San Fernando Valley Fiesta Days parade. She was the first female Drum Major to be awarded this trophy.

On her 18th birthday, Mary-Frances enlisted in the United States Air Force, where she proudly served as an Air Traffic Control Dispatcher. She took her Basic Training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas, and was later stationed at Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, and Shaw AFB, Sumter South Carolina. Mary-Frances’s experience in air traffic control would lead to one of the more unique experiences of her life. In 1974, as an audience member on a television game show in Los Angeles, the host requested assistance for what appeared to be an emergency helicopter landing. The show's producers knew of her flight tower experience and enlisted her help - only for Mary-Frances to discover that a close friend had arranged her participation as a behind-the scenes, live on television surprise.

For more than 20 years, Mary-Frances worked at Principal Financial Group, as a Manager in Pension Administration. Later, Mary-Frances served as Secretary for the Iowa chapter of the General Federation of Women's Clubs (GFWC), which is one of the oldest international women’s organizations dedicated to civic involvement through volunteer service.

Deeply creative, Mary-Frances enjoyed oil and watercolor painting, sewing, photography, and gardening. She had a lifelong love of reading and passed that love of books on to her children and grandchildren.

Family was at the center of Mary-Frances's life, and she had a gift for creating beautiful memories for the people she loved. She loved planning celebrations, often attending to the smallest detail to make each occasion special. She was an extraordinary gift giver and became affectionately known for receiving the "cry-baby award" for giving the most meaningful gifts. For many years, her famous Christmas cookie boxes were eagerly anticipated and became a tradition all their own.

Mary-Frances also loved the ocean. Some of her happiest childhood memories were family trips to the Santa Monica Pier, and throughout her life she took every opportunity to return to the water, whether on cruises or trips to Mexico. She loved a good margarita and, in recent years, enjoyed sharing laughs and good times with her friends over Taco Tuesdays.

Throughout her life, Mary-Frances called many places home, including Sumter, South Carolina; Omaha, Nebraska; Boise, Idaho; San Diego, California; and Des Moines, Iowa, before retiring to her husband's family farm in Peterson, Iowa.

Mary-Frances is preceded in death by her parents, Arnold Sr and Flora Ramirez, her sister, Antoinette Tews, as well as her grandparents and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.

Mary-Frances is survived by: her husband, Dale Reese, her brother, Arnold Ramirez Jr, her daughters, Brenda Yancey (Araceli) and Christine Yancey, stepdaughter, Erin Mueller (Kevin) and stepson, Derek Reese (Pamela); her grandchildren, Mackenzie Yancey (Brandon), Sabrina Wood, Bailey Yancey, Kinley Valenzuela, Emma Joss (A.J), Dean Reese (Tranae), Jaden Mueller, and Jackson Mueller; her great-grandchildren, Kaiah, Khloe, Addison, and Rory.

Mary-Frances leaves behind not simply people who loved her, but generations of family who carry pieces of her with them: her love of reading, her creativity, her sense of adventure, her generosity, her love of celebration, and countless memories created with the people she held dear. She will be deeply loved, deeply missed, and forever remembered.

Family and friends will be received at a private Celebration of Life at the Reese Family Farm, Peterson, Iowa, on a date to be determined. Future services and burial will be at the San Antonio De La Ossa Chapel and De La Ossa Family Cemetery, Lochiel, Arizona.