It is with sorrow and joy that we announce the passing of our dear mother, Margaret (Peggy) Lucille Martin Erow Reaka on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, after a short illness at Lakeland Regional Medical Center in Lakeland, FL. 

Born December 16,1935 in Waynesburg PA she lived 90 grace-filled years as a daughter, wife, mother, grandma, GiGi, Sister-in law, Aunt, and friend. She was raised by her mother, Grace Golden Gray Hewitt and her stepfather, Harry Hewitt. She attended schools in Waynesburg and graduated from Greene Township High School in Mapleton PA. She later attended Nurse’s training at Fairmont State College in Fairmont, West Virginia before marrying Donald James Erow in 1955 at her mother’s hospital bedside. She became mother to Bill, Kathy, Beth and Jim over the next few years and worked tirelessly to provide a loving stable home to them as a homemaker in Plattsburg NY and later moving to Warsaw OH. She worked diligently for many years in their family garden preserving food. She was led to the Lord and discipled in Sept 1957 by Missionary friends Dan and Shirley Robinson. Trusting Christ was the best decision she ever made and she served Him from that day forward with her life. She faithfully took her children to church whenever the doors were opened and attended Calvary Baptist Church in Coshocton, OH under Pastor Cole, Pastor Lawhead and Pastor David (Marsha)Elmore for many years before the family moved to Palm Harbor, FL in 1974. She was employed as a Patient Care Technician as well as working in the Christian School at Lakeside Community Church in Clearwater, FL where they attended church under Pastors Ralston and Dr. Peper. When the children were grown, they moved back to Coshocton, OH in the early 1980’s. While living back in Ohio, she was employed by Dr. Gerald Arndt and later by Dr. Michael McPeak. She worked in the home of Cletus and Betty Hoffman, caring for their children and also at the Calvary Christian Daycare Center under Pastor Larry and Sheryl Fox. She also was employed at Marilyn’s Natural Foods in Coshocton. She later joined Victory Baptist Church in Coshocton where she met her 2nd husband, CW Reaka. They were married in 1995, creating a large blended family. They moved to Gaston, SCin 1997 and later to Swansea SC where CW became pastor of Open Bible Baptist Church. After he suffered a crippling stroke, she lovingly cared for him until his death in 2005. Following CW’s death, she divided her time living in Ohio with her daughter Beth, in SC with her daughter Joanna and in Florida with her son Bill. She eventually moved to Florida full time where she became a faithful member of Berean Baptist Church in Chipley FL, and later of Calvary Baptist church in Lakeland, FL under the leadership of her pastor, Shane (Danielle) Skelton. She made many dear lifelong friends at each location she lived in and served the Lord faithfully in many ministries in the churches where she was a member. She fondly remembered dear friends Alma Vannoy, Paula Carroll Myers, Susan McPeakMason, Marilyn Schaeffer, Jeannie Kilpatrick, Pastor Terry Weirich, Pastor Davidand Debbie Johnson, Pastor Tracy and Beth Thompson, Charles Lucas, Joey Curado, Velma Collins, Inez Cagle, Ann Russ, Nora Fox, Melissa Cook, Pastor Jesse (Cynthia) Bowen, Jeanene Cook, Diane Cothern, Betty Taylor, Jeannie Chestnut, Ruth Kline, Virginia MaHaney, and Grace Redman. She “adopted” Brandon and Dessie Crotchett when they joined Calvary Baptist several years ago and faithfully prayed for them. We wish to thank the fine staff at The Club at Lake Gibson Nursing Home for the excellent care she received from the nurses, aides, activity staff and others involved in her daily care as she lived there for these past 4 years. If someone was missed, please understand this was an error of the mind and not the heart.

Ms. Reaka is survived by her son Bill (Tammy) Erow of Lakeland, FL, her daughter Beth (Jeff) Watson of Norwich, OH, bonus children, Diana Sangster of Columbia, SC, Lynette Horton of Columbia, SC, David (Joanne) Reaka of Nelson, BC, Canada, Michael (Kate) Reaka of Fairfield, CA, Phillip (Anita) Reaka of Columbia, SC, Rebecca (David) Hunter of Chattanooga, TN, Daniel (Dawn) Reaka of Lewisville, TX, Joanna (Danny) Reaka of Lexington, SC, Stephen Reaka of Hico, TX, Suzanna (Dalton) of Sheridan, WY, and Peter (Sara) Reaka of Colleyville, TX. 

She leaves 33 grandchildren, Angel, Chad, Brandon, Brody, Tony, John, Peter, David, Tiffany, Susan, Steve, Benjamin, David P, Bethany, Naomi, Michael, Heather, Laura, Michael Jr., Jennifer, Jonathan, Rachel, David, Jessica, Lauren, Gabriel, Ashley, Autumn, Christopher, Bryor, Kelsey, Dalton and Trinity as well as 31 great grandchildren many who affectionately called her “GiGi” (Great Grandma).

She is also survived by sisters in law, Helen Lemaster of Mt. Vernon, OH, Nellie Erow of Cadiz OH, Paulette Bouvier Reaka of Salmon Arm, BC, Canada and special nieces and nephews, Terry, Jackie, Judy, Jeannie, Joy, Debbie, Carol Jean, Christine, Ken, Jeff and Mike. Peggy is preceded in death by her mother, Grace Golden Gray Hewitt, first husband, Donald James Erow, and 2nd husband, Clarence Wayne Reaka, her daughter, Kathryn Grace Erow, her son, Donald James Erow Jr., Bonus children, Jonathan Reaka, Timothy Reaka and Nathan Reaka, beloved sisters and brothers in law, Dorothy (Kenneth) Alexander, Edith (Forrest) Frazee, James Lemaster, Dick Erow, Harold (Dorothy) Vandenberg, Kenneth (Julia) Reaka, Wilma Dell (Loy Barton) Reaka, Don (Mary Jane) Reaka, Duane (Ruth) Reaka, Bob (Shirley) Reaka, Mary Reaka (Lee Nelson), Dorothy Reaka (Don Shiesser) as well as a beloved grandson, Colin Erow.

Peggy, as she was affectionately known, lived a long and fruitful life marked by loving relationships and contrasted by seasons of pain and sorrow. Her greatest gift in her life was her relationship with her Lord, Jesus Christ who she now knows Face to Face. 

Her favorite Scriptures were:

1 Corinthians 10:13

“There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.”

And

3 John 1:4.

“I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.”

Family visitation will be held on Saturday August 15, at 10:00 am with a memorial service following at 11:00am at Calvary Baptist Church at 4209 Old Kathleen Rd in Lakeland Florida. Livestream of the service is available by visiting Calvaryonline.com and selecting “Livestream”. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Calvary Baptist Church Building Fund. Gentry Morrison Funeral Home in Lakeland FL. is serving the family.