Hanneli Reeves

Hanneliesel (Hanneli) Reeves died peacefully at home in Mendocino on March 29, at age 88. Born in Berlin in 1927, her experiences growing up in war-torn Germany developed her lifelong strength and self-reliance.

Trained as a master tailor after the war, she emigrated to St. Louis in 1952 where she worked as a pattern maker. She arrived in San Francisco in 1956 and soon married George Reeves. In 1964 they built a home in Mendocino and moved there permanently in 1970, where Hanneli raised two children and taught quilting. She became the first president of the Mendocino Land Trust, a founding member of the Mendocino Friends Meeting and an avid gardener who helped start the Art Center's annual Coast Garden Tour. She will be remembered for her skills with textiles, love of plant life, unvarnished character, and warm smile.

Hanneli is survived by her daughter Erina Reeves, son Arlo Reeves and daughter-in-law Ann Walker of Mendocino, sister, Helga Maaser of San Francico, brother, Harald Unteutsch of Munich.

Hanneli and her husband George had the first gathering that was to become the Mendocino Worship Group around 1976 in their living room. It continued in the Kelly House Museum under the care of Redwood Forest Meeting.