Jurhee Kathryn "Ree" Veach

Carbondale - Jurhee Kathryn Veach, born December 31, 1945, died on May 18, 2017 at her home in Carbondale, surrounded by her family.



Ree, as she was known, was born in St. Louis, Missouri, to Eunice M. (Bruce) Vaughn and Verne M. Vaughn. They lived, at the time, with Eunice's parents in a rural area south of St. Louis near Arnold.



Ree, and her sister, Sheila, attended Fairfield Grade and High Schools, in Fairfield, Illinois. Ree graduated from Fairfield High School in 1964. She attended Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, Illinois, and the Chicago Art Institute, before graduating from SIU in 1970, with a bachelor's degree in Elementary Education.



Following graduation, she worked for J. C. Penney Company, when it first opened in Carbondale at the site of the present University Mall.. When Ree and Greg moved to San Diego, California, in 1972, Ree continued working for the J.C. Penney Company, at stores in San Diego and Chula Vista, California. She was a department manager at the Penney stores in Fashion Valley and Chula Vista. Then, she was hired as store manager for a company known as 5-7-9 Stores, a ladies clothing chain in southern California, where she worked until 1978, when first child, Aaron, was born.



On 9/11/1971, Ree married Gregory A. Veach in Vienna, Illinois. They have two children, Aaron D. Veach, 39, of Chicago, and Jamie J. Veach, 36, of Carbondale; and, one grandson, Kayden James, 5 months, of Carbondale.



Between 1984 and 2006, Ree managed and operated eight convenience stores for Veach Oil Company, a petroleum marketing business owned by her mother-in-law and brother-in-law.



Throughout her life, and during her years working in the business world, Ree was creative and artistic. She was mechanically-inclined, was a tool-user, and made things. Immediately upon moving to her home on Striegle Road in Carbondale, she began re-modeling work on the home, inside and out, and creating a garden in the yard, almost entirely of perennials and shrubs. She worked tirelessly on the garden and her artwork, in addition to raising her children, and working in the business world.



In 2007, Ree retired from the business world, and focused entirely on her artwork. She produced photographic art and assemblages, and sold the pieces at local art galleries, wineries and shows. Some of her work has been on display at Starview Winery for several years.



Ree's mother, Eunice, died in 1987. Her father, Verne, in 2007. Ree is survived by her sister, Sheila, husband, Greg, son, Aaron, daughter, Jamie, and her very, special grandson, Kayden James, born December 13, 2016, in Carbondale.



No flowers should be sent. Donations may be made in Ree's name to American Cancer Society or the Humane Society of the United States.



In accordance with her wishes, a private gathering is planned.