Reta R. Brubaker

Reta Brubaker, 92, of Moberly, passed away Tuesday January 25, 2022 surrounded by her loving family. 

She was born, November 24th, 1929 in Clayton, Illinois to Joe and Erma (Childers) Lierly. She grew up in the country alongside her three sisters Ella Mae, Joan and Faye. Her sisters would describe her as the boss of the group at a young age. She always made sure the house was tidy and fed while their parents were in the field.  She likely began her love for cards early in life, when her parents would play with her and her sisters.

Reta graduated from Clayton Community High School in 1948. Shortly after graduation, her first cousin Lily Rose introduced her to Bob Brubaker of Huntsville, Missouri. The two quickly fell in love and were married at Fort Bliss, Texas in 1949. In the first year of their marriage, Bob was serving in the Army and deployed to Korea at the height of the war. On December 6,1950, the day Bob landed in Korea, the couple welcomed their first child, Carol (Brubaker) Tucker at Woodland Hospital in Moberly, Missouri. Five years later, on July 7th, 1955 they welcomed Michael Brubaker into the world to complete their family.

Bob and Reta owned the successful Town and Country Abstract Company in Huntsville, Missouri. In their spare time, the couple was known to have a lot of fun with their closest friends and family! They traveled to destinations with their lifelong friends including an iconic 1975 trip to Hawaii! Reta shared her love for dancing with Bob, and those that knew them, knew them to always be out on the dance floor. The Brubaker family shared many memories at their Holiday Acres property where they hosted parties and boating days with only rare occurrences of Reta in the water! After Bob’s death in 1977, she ran the abstract company for a year before selling the company to enjoy retirement!

In her retirement years, Reta continued to travel with friends, hosted card parties, and became known for her skills in bingo, bridge, and Liverpool rummy. She was an active member of multiple card groups. She spent most of her Saturday evenings dancing at the Moose Lodge in Moberly. Some of her favorite nights were spent playing cards with her sisters, playing all night long together for decades! Reta was also a faithful member of Trinity United Methodist Church in Moberly for over 65 years.

In 1974, her retirement got even sweeter when she became a grandmother to her first grandchild, Rachel, and again in 1982, when her second grandchild, Michelle was born. In the years that followed, she would become a great grandmother to 5 great grandchildren that she loved dearly! Of all of the things she did in her life, she loved being a grandmother. Reta’s heart was designed to hold so much love, with plenty to give. All of her grandchildren and great grandchildren have a lifetime worth of memories and laughs that they shared with her.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband , a son Michael and her sisters Ella Mae Bence and Joan Davis, all of whom were eager to greet her in Heaven.

She is survived by her daughter Carol (Brubaker) Tucker, granddaughters Rachel Hrdina (Greg) and Shelly Brubaker (James), and 5 great grandchildren Alexandra Smith (Dallas), Preslee Brubaker, Jake Hrdina, Jack Brubaker, and Aaron Hrdina, a sister Faye Knight, nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Reta lived all her life to the absolute fullest. She was a fun friend, wise mentor, and a loving wife, mother, sister and grandmother. Those that knew her, loved to hear her stories and soak up everything that there was to learn from her. Her infectious smile and notable laugh will be fondly remembered by all. Her love of all things blue, her quick wit, her heart, and the memories she created will be greatly cherished.

Reta’s family wishes to extend their sincere gratitude and thankfulness for the care and compassion shown to her by the staff while she was a resident at Meadow Ridge Senior Living.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the Alzheimer's Association.

Words of comfort and support were shared with the family at a visitation held in the Cater Funeral Home. Services honoring and celebrating Reta’s life were held at the Cater Funeral home Chapel. Committal prayer and burial followed in the Oakland Cemetery .