Rhea Ann was a special person to a lot of people, and even though Ron and I kind of lost touch with you two, we thought of you often, and will never forget the crazy times on bikes, at Sturgis and other fun parties.  I will never forget Rhea riding on your bike the first time ....and how she thought it was so funny and scary when Ron  & I "leaned over to the side" going around corners....not realizing she was doing the same thing!  She was a gem!  I can imagine that many, many people have fond memories of her as she was such a loving person.  

Please take care and give us a call when you can.  We would love to talk with you.

Diana and Ron Strodtman 

Dan - we are just so sad and shocked to hear of Rhea Ann's passing. You are in our thoughts and prayers. She was such an amazing lady, and just so special to me! I have such fond memories of spending time with Rhea Ann when I was a teenager, and I remember sharing stories of my first true love with her! I will never forget that! Then, when I was in college, I ended up in first class on a flight with her to Seattle! She was just  precious - so much like a mom to me! Much love to you during this difficult time.

Amanda Gay Smith - Carruthers

Wonderful friends.

Dan, daily you have been in my thoughts and prayers.  My memory bank is filled with times together with you and Rhea Ann. I am sitting here wearing my Ozark denim shirt talking to Rhea Ann.

The times I lived in your home,when you were away was a honor. Your dogs were the most loving,understanding well-behaved children I have ever met.  The poem Rainbow Ridge talks about meeting our pets again. "You cling together in joyous reunion".  Rhea Ann is experiancing this.


Rhea would call when in town or away telling me we could share happy hour together. I always hung up smiling. If you needed help finding anything,she knew where to locate it.  She was so talented.  Her knowledge to arrange flowers,decorate and trim a tree with perfect touches.


The fun times being at your house.  You playing guitar,Rhea playing spoons and singing with you.


August 28 you were married 31 years.  How wonderful ,you were meant for each other. God broke the mold after he created Rhea Ann.


Dan, I plan to replay our times together,like favorite movies from my secret archives.  I'll be showing your old pictures here.


Love, Nancy                                                                 
 

                                                                                                                                         

       

Pat and I went to lunch with Rhea a few days before she had to go for her procedure and even though she had a lot going on she was not about to stop for anything.
Rhea was a true picture of what a Flight Attendant was all about.  She was pretty,fun loving, hard working and always glad to make a new friend !  As it is with people in the airline biz you may go years without seeing each other but when you saw Rhea after some time apart it was like old home week.  She wold grab your hand or hug you and ask how it was going .  She made us laugh!! She is one of the reasons Ozark Reunions keep going on and on and her and Dan's parties are always part of the Reunion.  Dan....I am so sorry for your loss of this great Fly Gal.  Our Ozark Family will NEVER be the same without her!!! My prayers are with you and all the family!!! She loved and she will always be loved.

Rhea was like no other person I've ever met. She always gave me great advice and always treated me like a son of hers. Always made me feel like family. She would light up a room, telling stories, filling the room with her gorgeous laughter, and no matter what was going on, she would make people feel comforatable and cheerful. I love that woman. Every time I would get the chance, I would go and see her and Dan, two of my most favorite people on the planet. I travel and play music for a living, so I don't get to stop by nearly as often as I want to. But every time, It was like we never parted. Always on beat with eachother, and always making the most of what time we did spend together. I meet tons of people every day, every week, every month/year. I can honestly say that Rhea was one of a kind, and one of the most wonderful spirits to ever touch the earth. I love you, Rhea. I look forward to the day we see eachother again. <3

-Mark  

RHEA, YOU AND I HAVE KNOW EACH OTHER FOR 29 YEARS AND HAVE SHARED SO MANY HAPPY TIMES. THE TIME WE WENT GIGGING FOR FROGS  AT YOUR LAKE IN ST LOUIS. STILL CAN'T EAT FROG LEGS TO THIS DAY.. YOU TAUGHT ME THE ART OF SHIPPING WHEN YOU SHOP TO MUCH TO CARRY IT HOME. I WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER THE LAST GIRLS CRUISE IN APRIL HOW FUN WAS THAT. WE WILL MISS OUR FRIDAY GIRLS LUNCHEN WITH YOU AND OUR TRIPS TO THE "O". AS I LOOK BACK ON OUR FRIENDSHIP HOW WE HAVE GROWN AND WHERE WE HAVE BEEN I THANK GOD FOR GIVING ME MY  VERY SPECIAL FRIEND.. I WILL MISS YOU SO MUCH.

I always think fondly of this story.  The three of us were out for the evening
to a few Irish Bars.  We returned to their house and had a nitecap. All of a sudden Rhea Ann looked down and discovered her wedding rings missing.  She was extremely upset and I asked her if i could help.  I retraced her steps for that evening
and low and behold i found the rings in her kitchen where she had taken them off to wash her hands. She was a great person and will be missed by all.
    

What a trip that was.  A three day trip, and you made sure every detail was covered for all three days.  You arranged the bridal suite in DFW for us, and yes we did have a great party.  Next morning, the airplane was decorated with all red, white, and blue streamers, not only did the OLE Captain feel special, since it was his last trip, so did the passengers.  You and Dan came out to our house that day, and Dan played and sang his guitar until 4 AM, Dan playing the song he wrote for you, My Rhea Ann, and you playing the spoons.

     Well ,now you and Hi can be up there rehersing for our entry, and telling all the old stories, and don't forget the red, white and blue streamers!! 


   What a beautiful lady you were.    

 
    

Aunt Rhea you always encouraged me to go back to school even after I was a mother. You were always cheering for me even when I did not want to cheer for myself, you always said that God had a plan for my beautiful young face and you always told methat going back to school was the best thing that I could do for my life and my kids. So because of our talks I decided to go back to school to persue my nursing career and you were always excited to hear about how it was going. I don't think that without your thoughtful talks that I would have ever made it that far in school. But then I finished just this month and never got the chance to tell you that I finally finished and that a trip to Savannah was in order for the graduation ceremony in June of next year. I know one thing though that on that day you will be watching from up above and crying tears of joy just like I will be.

You have been there for me and my family for a lifetime and you will be dearly missed, I just wish that I could have seen your face at graduation or had the chance to hug you one last time or see your smiling face. I do know that you will be waiting up above with a big smile and hug for all of us and you will be watching from up above over all of us.

God has one beautiful angel there in heaven and an AMAZING cook. You are deeply missed down here but I know that you are here with me in spirt guiding me along the path to nursing school. I LOVE AND MISS YOU!!!!

THANKS FOR ALWAYS BEING MY CHEERLEADER YOU WERE THE BEST AUNT EVER!!!