Reta Kennedy Dyess

Reta Kennedy Dyess was born in Rusk, Texas on July 15th, 1941. She entered into heaven with her Lord and Savior onNovember 29th, 2025, at the age of 84 with her family by her side.

She is preceded in death by her husband of 65 years, Forrest Dyess, parents, Roy Kennedy and Catherine Parsons Kennedy, brother Roy Jr. Kennedy and sister Esther Dyess. She is survived by her son Kenny Dyess and wife Kim of Jacksonville and daughters Cathy Newman and husband Rodney of Rusk and Terrie Sadler and husband Randy ofGallatin. 

She was known as Grandmama and Memaw to her grandchildren, Jody Dyess and wife Bonnie, Jennifer Tyler and husband Kenny, Jordan Dyess, Allison Rawlinson and husband Brayden, Nick Cowan and wife Jeannette, Katy Woods and husband Jared, James Newman and wife Tara, Jacob Newman and wife Heidi, Casey Newman, Amanda Scott and husband Hayden, Meagan Shuptrine and husband Brock, Forrest Jones and wife Megan, Garrett Jones, Jory Sadler, Caleb Sadler and wife Hannah, Nikita Sadler, Raysha Watson and husband Jeremy. Also 35 great grandchildren, Anna, Hayden, Karen, Eli Dyess, Landon and Lilly Tyler, Palmer Dyess, Sunni and Baker Rawlinson, Remi, Zella, and RossiCowan, Torsten and Torvi Woods, Grayson, Julianne, Rhett, and Colt Newman, Ty, Tenley, Tripp Newman, Jettie and Lindy Scott, Analeigha, Easton, and Dawson Shuptrine, LynnLee, Honey, and River Jones, Hunter, Lindsey, and Cameron Sadler, Macy and Demi Sadler, Aiden and Jaxson Watson. She is also survived by brother-in- law R.S. Dyess,sister-in law and brother-in-law Martha and Joe Parsley, sister-in-law Mary Dyess, and brother-in-law Freddie Morrisand numerous nieces and nephews.

Reta grew up in Rusk and married her high school sweetheart in 1958 and together they raised their three children,Kenny, Cathy and Terrie in a Christian home teaching them to love and respect each other and God. She was afaithful and loving wife dedicated to serving the Lord as a member of Eastside Baptist Church for 74 years. 

In Rusk she owned and operated a dairy farm for 44 years and later operated a beef cattle ranch. She graduatedfrom Jacksonville Baptist Theological Seminary and was the director of Eastside Christian Academy for 10 years. 

She loved her Lord with all her heart. She also loved watching the grandchildren and great grandchildren walk through the front door to see her and give her a hug. She loved the children at Eastside Academy and enjoyed watching them grow in Christ. She will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her. 

Services will be entrusted to Wallace-Thompson Funeral Home. A time of visitation for family and friends will beheld on December 3rd at 10:00 AM at Eastside Baptist Church.

Funeral service will begin at 11:00 AM. immediately following visitation. Burial will be at Providence Cemetery in Dialville, Texas. Pallbearers will be grandsons, Jody and Jordan Dyess, James and Jacob Newman, and Forrest andGarrett Jones. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Eastside Baptist Church, 400 Academy St. Rusk, Texas,75785.

Matthew 6:33

Seek ye first the kingdom of God.