Belvidere resident Margaret Ann Reeves, renowned local artist, passes away at age 91
BELVIDERE, NJ (Warren County) – Margaret Ann Reeves, age 91, of Belvidere, passed away on Friday, January 10, 2025, at Mira Vie at Brookfield in Belvidere. Born on September 9, 1933, in Newark, to the late Francis and Margaret (Chapin) Apgar, Ann, as she was affectionately known, was predeceased by her beloved husband, Harold, her daughter, Jessica Wasilewski, and her brother, Frank Apgar.
Ann’s love for art began at the age of four, when she started illustrating her own stories. She met Harold (Harry) during their senior year at Boonton High School, and the couple married in 1953. Ann went on to attend the McDowell School of Fashion and Design in Manhattan. Together, she and Harold raised four daughters, and Ann dedicated herself to being a homemaker for the next three decades.
In the early 1970s, the Reeves family moved to Hackettstown, where the small-town charm inspired Ann to combine primitive and folk-art styles in her scenic paintings. What began as local artwork soon expanded throughout New Jersey, gaining her recognition as a renowned artist. In addition to painting, Ann enjoyed quilting and sewing.
Ann was known for her love of family and often hosted gatherings at her home, cherishing time spent with her children and grandchildren. She loved including her grandchildren in her research of local towns for her next painting project. Until just a few weeks before her passing, Ann continued to plan and work on art projects.
Ann was also inducted into the Warren County Hall of Fame in 2012.
She is survived by three daughters, Katherine Dahms, Patricia Buttner-Todd and husband Mark, and Cynthia Reeves and husband Stefano Tomeo; ten grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; a niece and two nephews; and her sister-in-law.
A memorial visitation will be held on Friday, January 24, 2025, from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Cochran Funeral Home, 905 High Street, Hackettstown, NJ. Services will begin at 7:30 p.m.
