Luise Woyta Reece

February 20, 1934 – May 11, 2025

Born February 20, 1934, the daughter of Georg and Martha Korn Woyta, Luise Reece knew pre-World War II Germany as a child. She remembered the prosperity and the vibrancy of the German economy and the strong work ethic of the German people. It was not until the final stages of World War II when she experienced the bombing of her own home that she fully understood the many horrors of war.

Her father and oldest brother were away in Russian prisoner of war camps. Luise, her mother, and her 3 other brothers had been away spending the night with an aunt. When they returned the next morning, their home had been totally destroyed — leaving nothing more than a pile of rubble.

The determination and resilience that she learned from this experience along with the near starvation that her family would endure after the war ended gave her the strength to face all kinds of challenges throughout the remaining 91 years of her life.

She came to the United States in 1956 with her army-soldier husband and their three-year-old daughter. As a 22-year-old mother she brought with her all the hope and optimism that made America great. Even though the south at the time had the struggles of poverty that in many ways were just as bad or worse than war-torn Germany, the drive and quiet determination in her soul would serve as the cornerstone of her small family's survival and ultimate success.

A strong Christian mother devoted to her family and those she served, Luise worked hard throughout her life. She often taught herself how to do things she had never done, including how to drive a car, how to milk a cow, grow a garden and a field of corn and how to process, cure, can and preserve the many hogs that were raised on the small family farm, including rendering the lard for cooking and other uses. She learned English on her own and in 1965 became a naturalized American citizen.

Luise taught herself how to be computer proficient in her sixties and became quite skilled with the internet in her seventies.

In the business world, she played a major role in helping to start and manage the family businesses, including her daughter's beauty shop on the square in Ellijay and her son's law firm in Atlanta – often keeping the books and organizing work flow. For many years she and Ike operated North Georgia Appliance Service on North Main Street in Ellijay. Many people knew Ike as an excellent repairman. What they didn't know was that most of the stoves, microwaves and other small appliances that were dropped off were actually repaired not by Ike, but by Luise. He was busy with all the refrigeration work.

Later the family developed property on Burnt Mountain where they sold land and houses. Luise's calmness and patience made her probably the best salesperson and problem solver. She always made sure that there was a warm pound cake, beef stew or piping hot chili in the kitchen for anyone who happened to drop by. In Atlanta her son owned several hundred apartment units and single-family homes that Luise managed. For almost thirty years she ran Fairfield Apartments in Jasper, a complex that her son had built. Her strength and guidance inspired many young families and she gave many of them a second chance when no one else would. Her steady hand and strict German ways provided comfort and security for the older residents.

In her eighties she became a cancer survivor. Perhaps the most tragic moment in her life was a few years ago when she realized she was slipping into dementia. This is a ravaging disease. After much reading and research, members of her family feel that her dementia may have been brought on by multiple vaccinations over the years.

Luise Renate Woyta Reece passed away peacefully on Mother's Day, May 11, 2025 at Avail Senior Living in Cleveland, Tennessee at the age of 91.

Luise was predeceased by her husband of almost 72 years, Ike Reece, as well as her parents and brothers- and sisters-in-law Hans & Frieda Woyta, Kurt & Anni Woyta, Paul & Sofie Woyta and Karel Woyta.

She is survived by her children, Margitta Solomon (David), Wayne Reece (Michael), and a special relative, Cindy Ellis Bailey (Russ), who lived with the Reeces for several years as a child and who was devoted to Luise throughout her life, her granddaughter Jamila Pope Dougherty, and her sister-in-law Shirley Reece Daley (Larry) as well as a number of nieces and nephews in the USA and Germany. Over the years her son-in-law, Michael Reece, was her lead care giver and, along with her son, her leading health care advocate.

Luise's funeral service will be held at the Logan Funeral Home Chapel at 357 Dalton Street, Ellijay, Georgia. Ike's body has been exhumed from the Yukon Cemetery and they will be buried alongside each other in the City of Ellijay Cemetery.

Luise was a member of the Eastern Star and was a member of the Pleasant Union Baptist Church in Dawson County for sixty years.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the Pleasant Union Baptist Church, c/o Charles Hammontree, 286 McClain Mountain Road, Jasper, Georgia 30143. Wayne and Michael give thanks to Chris Beckstrand, Terri Meyers, Christy Spurgeon and the many other good people at Avail Senior Living in Cleveland, Tennessee as well as to Mary and the other care givers from Home Helpers in Cleveland. A special thanks is due to Scott Logan and his staff at Logan Funeral Home.