Reva Ray Puller

Reva Dee Ray Puller, 86 passed away peacefully at home on the 25th day, September 2023 surrounded by her family.  She was the daughter of Fred Charles Ray and Hope Edith Swearingen Ray born in Terre Haute, Indiana.  Reva was raised on a farm in Cory.  She was active at the Cory United Methodist Church, Cory High School band, and 4-H where she won many ribbons at the Indiana State Fair.  Being an only child, she learned to work the fields with her father and at an early age was driving the truck at 5 years old through the fields while the men stacked hay bales on the wagon.  She also helped her mother in the house and garden especially with canning fruits and vegetables.

Reva graduated from Indiana State University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration.  She was a member of Zeta Tau Alpha Sorority.  She met her husband, Kenneth Arthur Puller in an accounting class.  They both worked at Paul Pfister and Company in different departments before moving to Indianapolis in 1961 and then later to Carmel in 1974.  She held an Indiana Real Estate License for many years.

With children in tow, Reva returned to Cory to take care of her mother (a schoolteacher) after surgery.  But the principal had other ideas.  He arranged a babysitter to take care of her children so that Reva could be the substitute teacher for Mrs. Ray’s English, Latin, and Home Economic classes.  Reva didn’t know any Latin, so she looked at the gradebook and had the smartest students teach the class for one day.  The Home Economics students loved having her as a substitute because she taught them how to make pizza and more popular foods.  Then Reva would go to the hospital in the evenings to take care of her mother.

Ken & Reva formed several companies including Puller Group, Monarch Management, and Puller Mortgage Associates (honored by INC 500 Magazine in 1987 and 1988 as one of the 500 fastest growing private companies in the U.S.).  Together they developed, managed, and financed several apartment communities, and retirement service centers throughout the country. The Marott Hotel was where many celebrities would stay when they came to Indianapolis.  But after the hotel closed, Reva and Ken redeveloped the old Hotel into Apartments in the early 1980’s and brought life back to the Marott.  One of Reva’s favorite moments there was when Italian opera tenor Luciano Pavarotti played at The Marott and kissed her hand.

Reva and Ken were instrumental and active in Mortgage Bankers Association, Builders Association of Greater Indianapolis, and the National Home Builders Association.  Through these groups they were able to meet several U. S. Presidents, dined at the White House and attend inaugurations and balls.  Back in the 80’s, Reva is one of the only civilians we know that received a phone call while at the White House.

Reva was an excellent cook (known for her lasagna, risotto, and red velvet cake) and loved to host parties whether it was family get togethers, neighbors or business parties. She enjoyed the fun times and shenanigans with the Shady Lane neighbors such as the Hoffman’s and several others.  She also was an excellent seamstress making clothes for her children, doll clothes and curtains.  The family and cousins rode in the surrey in the bicentennial parade, and she made long matching dresses for everyone to wear.  She crocheted beautiful afghan blankets for gifts and even designed school logos on some.  Ken and Reva loved to have fun, throw parties, play pranks, dance, and play cards (bridge, pinnacle, and euchre).  They enjoyed going to the Masonic Lodge for dances.  They belonged to several card groups and would invite the Talbot’s or Weybright’s over when the groups weren’t meeting.

Preceding her in death are her parents, husband, special cousin Laura Jeanne (Kennie Jr.) Rexrode, brother-in-law John Puller, and sister-in-law Susan Puller.  Survivors are her 3 children Kendra (Ken) Schultz, Kathleen (Allen) Campbell Avram, Kenneth (Tressia) Puller; 6 grandchildren Shelby and Clayton Campbell, Kenneth (fiancé Annie Crowley) and Kyra Schultz, Dalton (Jasmine) and Preston Puller; brother-in-law Anthony (Faye) Puller, sister-in-law Bev Puller; and special cousins Janice (Jeff) Long and Brian (Joy) Rexrode.

Special thanks to long time family friends Sheila Woerner and Angela (Chris) Hoye, Dr. Sonnenburg and his fantastic staff, and the Community Hospital North 3rd floor Oncology nurses and techs.

Visitation will be at Flanner & Buchanan - Carmel at 325 E. Carmel Drive, Carmel, IN on Thursday, September 28th from 4:00 – 7:00 pm and services will be on Friday, September 29th at 10:00 am.  Burial will be at Oak Hill Cemetery (Riley) at 10055 IN-46, Terre Haute, IN on Friday, September 29th at 1:30 pm.

Those attending visitation and services are asked to write down their favorite memory of Reva to share with the family. Memorial Contributions may be made to the Indiana Masonic Home, 690 S State St. Franklin, IN 46131, or the Shriners Hospitals for Children, PO Box 947765, Atlanta, GA 30394.