Reta East (ORetabelle Mary Goodrich, Connor, East), 102 years old, of Hallettsville, died peacefully at her residence at the Hallettsville Rehab and Nursing Home on Wednesday, September 13, 2023.

Reta was born in Sour Lake, Texas, to Arthur Butler Goodrich & Marie Benoit Goodrich on July 30, 1921.  She spent much of her early years in the area of Sulphur, Louisiana.  She was their 3rd child.  She was preceded in death by her 2 sisters and 5 brothers (all 5 served their country in World War II).

At the age of 19, Reta married her soldier/boyfriend, Floyd Thomas Connor.  Shortly after, Floyd was shipped off overseas to aid in the Netherlands.  On November 16, 1944, at the age of 22, Floyd was brought down during the largest Allied airborne attach of WWII.  Reta and Floyd had a son, Floyd Thomas Connor, Jr. born on July 16, 1943.  "Thomas" was just 16 months old when his father lost his life in the service of his country.

On May 1, 1946, Reta married her best friend, Framan Raman East, shortly after he returned from serving in WWII (in the Army in the Philippines until September 1945) in Sulphur, LA.  They moved to Palacios, TX, where Framan was a "roust-a-bout" for an oil drilling company.  Reta and Framan welcomed a daughter, Rita Fran, on July 2, 1951.  They then moved to Bay City, Texas where they lived until 1968.

In 1967, Framan followed his passion for deer hunting, buying 160 acres in Speaks, Texas.  They moved in a house they built together in 1968 and lived there until Framan passed on October 1, 2001.  They celebrated 54 years of marriage just a few months before he passed.  Reta loved her land and stayed on the property until she sold it in 2007.  She moved to Georgetown, TX, to be near her daughter, Fran.  Then in 2016 moved to Houston, TX to be near her son, Thomas.

In 2021, Reta moved back to Hallettsville where she lived in Hallettsville Rehab and Nursing Home until her death.

Reta is survived by; her son Floyd Thomas Connor & wife Samer J. Connor, daughter Rita Fran Norris & husband Charles P. Norris, 10 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren.

Funeral Mass Service: 10 am, Tuesday, September 19, 2023, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church of Hallettsville (400 E. 5th St.) with Visitation starting at 9 am. Officiant: Rev. John Affum. Memorials: donor's choice. Burial: Speaks Cemetery.