Obituary of Reta Bell Setliff East

Reta Bell Setliff East went Home to Heaven on Wednesday, September 22, 2021 at the age of 89. She loved the Lord, her family, her church and community. Reta was born to Walter and Mary Setliff on April 21,1932 in Kilarney, WV. She was blessed with two loving parents and 16 brothers and sisters.

Reta had a God-given tender heart with a splash of spunk. In 1951 she met Ellis Marshall East, in a small local grocery store where she worked. Reta was swept off her feet and they married in September of 1952. Gary was born in September of 1953 to two loving hard-working parents. Reta worked for clothing manufacturing companies for over 20 years and later in life got a job at the first Super Walmart in the area and stayed for 25 years until she retired in January, 2020.

She and Marshall were married for 38 years before he returned to his Heavenly Home in 1990. Although her first love passed away, God blessed Reta with another tremendous love. In 2005 Reta married Charles Leonard Bell. They had been friends for many years and met through their home church in Roanoke, VA. Reta and Charles were married for 15 years before he was called Home to Jesus. Although Reta had many health struggles this year, she took great comfort in knowing that no matter what happened, she would be healed, either on earth or in Heaven with her Savior.

Reta had a spectacular life filled with an abundance of love. She loved cooking and always made sure everyone else was taken care of in every way. Making coconut cake and her famous macaroni and cheese brought Reta great joy and she looked forward to anytime her family got together for a meal.

Throughout her entire life, Reta held an unwavering faith in God, which she proudly shared with those who surrounded her. In Heaven, Reta joins, her husbands, Rev. Ellis Marshall East and Charles Leonard Bell, her parents, Walter and Mary Setliff, brothers, Noel, Paul, Norman, Eddie, Jerry and Michael Setliff and sister, Brenda Gale Setliff.

She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Gary and Nancy East, grandsons and their families, Matt and Erica East (Jaydn and Makenna) and Stephen and Jaclyn East (Ellis and Mari- Belle), sisters, Claire Cavallier (Parma, OH), Carol O’Donnell (Cool Ridge, WV), Mary Lou Cook (Shady Springs, WV), Rebecca Matics (Shady Springs, WV), Dorcas Baldwin (Cool Ridge, WV), and brothers, Walter Setliff, Rev. Orville Setliff, David Setliff, and Keith Setliff, (Cool Ridge, WV), sisters-in-law, Virginia L. East (Christiansburg, VA) and Helen Hemetek (Ravenswood, WV). When Reta and Charles married she was blessed to gain two more precious daughters, Tracy Haerer and Maile Early and their families.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to New Life Christian Ministries (Missions), 5745 Airport Road, Roanoke, VA 24012.

To celebrate Reta’s life, a graveside service will be held Tuesday, September 28th at 12:00 noon at Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens, conducted by Pastor Gary Alls. A private visitation for her family will be held prior to the service. Arrangements are being handled by Simpson Funeral Home.

The family wishes to thank Intrepid Hospice for how they went above and beyond in the loving care they provided Reta these past weeks and to the staff and church family of New Life Christian Ministries for the food, visits and loving support we received during this time.