Stella Gay Reece, 84, of Taneytown, MD formerly of Westminster, passed away at her daughter’s home on October 11, 2025. Born April 30, 1941 in Clintonville, WV she was the daughter of the late Cecil B. Hanson and Anna Mary (Armentrout) Hanson.

She spent many years as a waitress working at the Holiday Inn and The Branding Iron. Stella also worked many years for the Carroll County Times where she received “Publishers Award” and also “Employee of the Year”. After her retirement from the Carroll County Times, she worked for Med I Q. She enjoyed shopping, traveling and spending time with family and friends.

Surviving are her children, daughter Dawn Steele and husband William of Taneytown, MD, son Joel Reece, Sr. and wife Carolyn of Newville, PA; daughter-in-law Sandra Rosewag; sisters Frances Pretty of Mosely, VA and Kathy Knicely of Westminster, MD; grandchildren Jason Reece, Jill Mollard, Joel Reece, Jr., Jacob Reece, Lindsay Pruneau and Tiffany Glass 18 great-grandchildren and 3 great-great grandchildren.

She was predeceased in death by her son Mark Reece, granddaughter Christine Rosewag, sister Ruby Price, brother-in-law Robert Pretty, nephews Gary and Keith Pretty and former husband Clyde Reece.

The family will receive friends from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. on Tuesday, October 21, 2025 and from 10 – 11 a.m. on Wednesday, October 22, 2025 at Fletcher Funeral & Cremation Services, 254 E Main Street, Westminster, MD 21157. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, October 22, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. at the funeral home. Interment will follow at Evergreen Memorial Gardens in Finksburg, MD.