Irma Mae Reitz Sallee, 93, of Russell Springs, KY died Sunday, March 17, 2024 with her family at her side. She was born on December 4, 1930 in Louisville, KY to Elmore Smith Reitz and Erma Viola Landhart Reitz.
She grew up in the Germantown neighborhood and attended Atherton High School. Irma married her husband of 69 years, Charles Ford Salle in 1950. Shortly after, she moved with him to Texas during his service in the US Army. When they returned to Louisville, they made their home in Okolona where Irma enjoyed bowling leagues, hosting bunco, and raising their three daughters. Irma was a “dance mom” to the girls and continued to support them and her grandchildren when they decided never to leave the stage life.
Irma was well known in Louisville and featured in the Courier-Journal for her impressive wedding cakes. She made cakes of all shapes and sizes with ornate embellishments. She would have preferred to serve cake or pie for dinner each night as her kitchen was often overrun with batters and icing for her next creation.
A true creative, Irma was also an accomplished seamstress and artist. She was a costume-maker for the Union Barrackades, a USO troupe that her daughters performed in. She made countless prom dresses, four wedding dresses, and hundreds of costumes in her lifetime. Irma enjoyed painting in watercolor and did several murals for her friends’ and family’s homes and businesses. Like most artists, her sewing room was crammed with fabrics, patterns, and “gingerbread” for her next project. If she could envision it, she could make it.
In addition to her parents, Irma Mae Sallee was preceded in death by her husband, Charles Ford Sallee; her brothers: Elmer Reitz, Frank Reitz, and Ralph Reitz; her dear sister, Rose Ada Reitz Kelty; and a favorite nephew, Glenn Reitz.
SURVIVORS:
3 daughters, Terry (Rick) Miles, Martha Sallee, and Patty (Eric) Grider
5 grandchildren: Casey (Jeremy) Lewis, Nick (Michelle) Miles, Sean Miles, Taylor (Braxton) Mann, and Zach Grider
8 great-grandchildren
Funeral Service: Saturday, March 23, 2024 at 9:00amCT at Bernard Funeral Home in Russell Springs, KY
Burial: Cave Hill Cemetery in Louisville at 1:30pmCT (2:30pmET)
Visitation: After 5:00pmCT on Friday, March 22, 2024
Funeral arrangements are under the care and direction of Bernard Funeral Home. An online guestbook is available at www.bernardfuneralhome.com.
