Reba Jane Moberley- Bender
Reba Jane Moberley- Bender
Reba Jane Moberley Bender - Born December 13, 1943 in Colorado City TX to Bessie Ruth Ervin and Stacey Boyd Moberley. The Family would settle down in Albany TX where Reba grew up attached to her Daddy’s side doing ranch work. Momma rode horses, barrel raced, goat roped and did bronc busting. Mom would tell us that her Daddy would put her on a bronc, she would get bucked off and hit her head hard. The other cowboys would say, “Boyd, you are gonna give her brain damage!” But she said my Daddy would snatch me up and put me right back on. Momma would then comment that was the reason she was not good at school. Too many hits to the head.
She loved growing up in Albany, she thought the courthouse there in Shackelford County was the prettiest she had ever seen. She also loved participating in the Fort Griffin Fandangle held in June. (It is a historical musical production presented by the people of Albany, beneath the summer stars recreating Texas of the 1800’s, complete with Plains Indians, soldiers and settlers.).
To her Daddy’s dismay, Reba discovered boys. Momma married her high school sweetheart and moved to Baytown TX. They had 2 kids, my brother David and myself, Ginger. Years later, they divorced and she met Gerald Bender, married and had my baby sister Joyce. Reba would help raise a family of his, mine and ours adding 2 step sons, Michael Bender and Charles Bender. We were all raised in Willis, TX.
I truly believe my Momma dabbled in every job there was to have. Reba was a bus driver, teacher’s aide, EMT, Daycare worker, Interior decorator and Driver’s Ed teacher throughout those years. She found time to sew cheerleader uniforms and be heavily involved with my little sister in 4H and FFA raising steers, heifers and lambs. My Momma loved adventure. She loved to go, see and do as much as possible. So when my sister Joy graduated from high school; my Mom did too.
Reba would go on to be a flight attendant for Continental Airlines for 10 years. She got her wish to see the world. Once travel was checked off of her bucket list, along with a skydiving experience…Yes, my momma jumped out of a plane because riding in them was not enough. She then decided to go to dental school to be a dental assistant. She eventually worked for Dr. Conrad where not only did she assist, but she morphed into a type of planner/ organizer. Dr. Conrad would teach dental seminars in various states and Momma would be in charge of booking flights/ hotel rooms, whatever was needed. Traveling and meeting new people, perfect!
Reba worked in the dental field until she was 77 years old. She retired and loved being a school crossing guard until her dementia overcame her.
Momma loved collecting teapots, bird houses and putting green plastic vines around everything. She loved looking pretty. Reba loved her Western movies and AMC theater black and white movies. There was always a Diet Dr. Pepper in her hand. She survived breast cancer, lymphatic cancer, thyroid cancer and kidney cancer. I believe each time she was diagnosed, she had her Daddy there throwing her right back on that bronc. He gave her toughness and grit. She did the best she could with her dementia. (Mom always went by Jane or Janie but after dementia, she was Reba now. We would just giggle and go along with it.) I’m sure now that she is in heaven, she is shaking things up. No more quiet time. You notice we have had more thunder this past week, it was Momma kicking open the pearly gates and announcing, “I’m here!” And, not too many people can be born on the 13th of the month and pass on the 13th.
Reba is survived by her 5 children, her numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren.
A Committal Service was held at Garden Park Cemetery, 801 Teas Rd, Conroe, TX 77303, on June 23, 2026, from 10:00 am to 11:00 am.
