Irma Mae Reitz Sallee, 93, of Russell Springs died on Sunday, March 17, 2024, with her family at her side. She was born on December 4, 1930, in Louisville, Kentucky 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. She is survived by her daughters, Terry (Rick) Miles, Martha Sallee, and Patty (Eric) Grider. She will be remembered as the best Nanny by her 5 grandchildren, Casey (Jeremy) Lewis, Nick (Michelle) Miles, Sean Miles, Taylor (Braxton) Mann, Zach Grider, and 8 great-grandchildren all of whom were her favorite.
Visitation will be on Friday, March 22 at 5:00 CDT with funeral services on Saturday, March 23, 2024 at 9:00 AM CDT at Bernard Funeral Home in Russell Springs, KY. Burial services will follow at Cave Hill Cemetery in Louisville at 1:30 CDT (2:30 EDT).
Funeral arrangements for Irma Mae Reitz Sallee are under the care and direction of Bernard Funeral Home. An online guestbook is available at www.bernardfuneralhome.com.