Garth entered his Heavenly home on Wednesday, April 5, 2017 at a Nampa care facility. He was born in Los Angeles, CA on March 9, 1932, to Gurney and Gertrude Reece and grew up in Southern California. He was the oldest of three children. He lived in Glendale, CA until 1946, at which time his family moved to LaHabra in Orange County. He graduated from Fullerton Union High School in 1950. While living in LaHabra he and his family were active in the East Whittier Friends Church, which was the church where the Nixon family attended. Upon graduation from high school he attended George Fox College (now GFU) in Newberg, Oregon. He graduated in 1955 with a degree in mathematics and education. He then completed his Master's degree in education at Linfield College in McMinnville, Oregon. After three summers at the University of Idaho he received a Master's degree in Natural Science. He spent three summers at the University of Oregon in computer training when it was first being introduced into the classroom. Following graduation from college, Garth began his teaching career at Caldwell, ID, where he spent one year and then moved to Payette High School, where he taught for three years. While teaching in Payette he made frequent trips to NNC on weekends and spent time with a friend he had known at George Fox. It was during those visits that he met his future wife, Phyllis Martin, and they were married in Kalama, WA in 1959 following her graduation from NNC now (NNU). Phyllis started her teaching career in Ontario, and in 1960 he joined the staff at Ontario High School and retired from that position after 34 years. Over the course of his career he taught most all of the math classes they offered. Then in the late 1970s he began teaching mostly computer classes, even before the PC's were on the scene. He was instrumental in helping the Ontario School District establish its own network system, and continued working for the district for a few years following his retirement, helping them maintain the district's growing network system. Working with computers was always a great source of satisfaction for him. He was able to get his two sons motivated and learning about computers ahead of most of the kids their age, which turned out to be a boon when they were seeking employment in college and since. Garth was a member of Ontario First Church of the Nazarene for 36 years, where he served in several capacities. Having driven a school bus during his college years, he found himself involved with driving the church bus, picking up passengers for Sunday School. driving kids to church camp in McCall or on many other outings. He also enjoyed driving the Ontario Recreation Dept. ski bus to the mountains, and spending the day on the slopes, usually taking Doug with him. He enjoyed skiing. He had a passion for trains! He developed that early in life. His parents enjoyed train travel, so he had many opportunities to enjoy that. He was happy riding them, watching them go by, reading his 'Trains" magazines, buying old railroad schedules in antique shops, watching one of his many train videos, doing model railroading with his two sons, or talking trains with a special friend in Nampa. Garth loved his family and was proud of them and enjoyed being with them. He was always delighted when the family or friends would stop by for a visit. He was a man who modeled Christianity, enjoyed reading his Bible, was gifted with spiritual understanding and wisdom, ready to help when asked, patient beyond belief, and always a gentleman. He was preceded in death by his parents Gurney and Gertrude Reece, a sister Gwen Johnston and her husband Jim, a sister-in-law Echo Olson and her husband Don, a sister-in-law Sharon Skelton, a brother-in-law Bruce Martin, and a nephew Tamal Reece. He is survived by his wife Phyllis. his son Douglas (Nadine) Reece, grandsons Ethan and Asher Reece, Meridian, and a son Stephen (Chary) Reece and grandchildren Jacob, Natalie, Elisa and Seth Reece, of Nampa, a brother Gerow Reece of Santa Cruz, CA, a sister-in-law JoAnn Martin of Colton, OR, a sister-in-law Myrna (Hank) Howard of Shelton, WA, a brother-in-law Paul Skelton of Russellville, AR and many nieces and nephews. We would like to thank Chi, Jill, Desiree and all of the nice people who cared for Garth over his eight years at Streamside for their kindness and love. We also want to express appreciation to Harrison's Hope Hospice for their care or Garth in his long battle with Parkinson's. A memorial service to honor and celebrate his life will be held at 11:00 A.M. Monday, April 10, 2017 at the Nampa Funeral Home, Yraguen Chapel. An online guest book is available at www.nampafuneralhome.com In lieu of flowers, please make a contribution to Trinity Pines Camp, Cascade ID or Hands of Hope, Nampa, ID or a charity of your choice.

Service Information Memorial Service Monday April 10, 2017 11:00 AM Nampa Funeral Home 415 12th Ave. So. Nampa, Idaho 83651