Alan Jeffrey Reavley

On April 19, 2023, Alan Jeffrey Reavley, age 77, passed away after a long cancer battle surrounded by his loving family.

Alan was born on February 18, 1946, to Ray and Barbara Reavley. He was raised in a Christian family.  A highlight of his life was playing football for the Great Falls Bison.  He graduated high school in 1964 and went on to earn a degree in Biology/Chemistry in 1968 from The College of Great Falls (now the University of Providence).

College sweethearts, Alan and Terri had an unbreakable bond due to their strong Catholic faith and were married for 55 years.  Terri was the love of his life. Alan was a gentle man and always a gentleman. He was kind, and generous, did not use foul language, and had a deep concern for others. His second love was his family. Alan lovingly raised five children who were the great joys of his life. He made sure to always share with them how special they were and how proud of them he was. Alan’s employment opportunities took the family to Minnesota, Missouri, and Florida before returning home.

Alan enjoyed animals, fishing, hunting, and playing baseball as a kid. He liked to dabble in woodworking. He had a talent for creatively decorating custom-themed cakes for all of his kids’ birthdays. Alan was an avid sports watcher!  He and his dad cheered on the Great Falls Dodgers (Voyagers). He was always a loyal fan of his favorite teams, the Grizzlies, Mariners, and Vikings. Alan and Terri volunteered for more than twenty years with the Retrouvaille of Montana ministry.  His children will miss his kind heart and caring nature and Terri will miss the many ways he made her laugh.

Alan was preceded in death by his parents; granddaughter, Tricia Cassidy; three brothers-in-law, Laurie DeBilzan, Mer Hoyt, and Alan Taylor.

He is survived by his wife, Terri; five children, Peter (Stephanie) Reavley, Anne Marie (Josh) Haemmerle, Sarah (Tim) Harrington, Andrew Reavley, and Rebecca (Brad) Ditter.  Alan is proud of his fourteen grandchildren, Connor (Taylor) Cassidy, Joey (Courtney) Reavley, Elizabeth (Travis) Reavley, Simon and Carter Hanson, Jake (Joele), Jordyn, and Erin Haemmerle, Nicholas, Jackson, and Anna Harrington, Delaney, Nolan, and Nash Ditter; great-grandchildren, Scarlett Sawicki and Gianna Cassidy; three siblings, Andrea (Mike) Annau, Susan Taylor, and Bill (Billie) Reavley; sisters-in-law, Elaine DeBilzan, Bonnie (Joe) Newman, Yvonne Hoyt, and numerous nieces and nephews.

A special thank you to the kind and compassionate nursing staff on the Benefis oncology floor and Peace Hospice House that cared for Alan in his final days. Memorials are suggested to Retrouvaille of Montana or Holy Spirit Catholic Church. A vigil is to be held Sunday, April 23, 2023, at 5:00 p.m. at Holy Spirit Catholic Church.  A funeral liturgy will be held on April 24, 2023, at 10:00 a.m. at Holy Spirit Catholic Church burial to follow the service at Highland Cemetery. The service will be live streamed through the Schnider Funeral Home Facebook page.