Joseph Reginald "Reggie" Tarleton of California, MD passed away peacefully at his home on Sunday morning, March 30, 2014 surrounded by members of his loving family. His faithful dog, Bear, stood watch overnight.

He was born on May 17, 1933 in Valley Lee to the late Luther Reginald Tarleton and Mary Josephine Ridgell Tarleton. He was the second of five children and was predeceased by younger siblings Mary Lee Tarleton and George Francis Tarleton.

He is survived by sisters Joyce Marable (Walt) of Garrett Park, MD and Shirley Evans Palmer of Greenbelt, MD.

He married Mary Margaret Wood in 1953 and they celebrated 42 years together until her death in July 1995 just before their 42nd wedding anniversary.

He was also predeceased by a grandson, Brian Joseph Tarleton, Jr.

Reggie is survived by his five children Karen Garner (John) of Drayden, Brian Tarleton (Marie) of St. Mary's City, Russell Tarleton (April) of California, Dale Tarleton (Patricia) of California, and Keith Tarleton (Keri) of Hollywood; nine grandchildren Mary Beth Garner Cudd (David), Jack Garner, Tara Tarleton, Kellan Tarleton, Brennan Tarleton, Travis Tarleton, Chelsea Tarleton, Cole Tarleton, Blake Tarleton, Ashlynn Tarleton; and one great-grandchild Aaron Cudd.

Reggie is also survived by his long-time companion, Peggy Goddard, with whom he enjoyed many card games, family events, and trips. He shared a special relationship with Corey and Janice Rakes and their girls Lilly and Allison as well as Peggy's granddaughter Tori Clements.

Reggie graduated from Great Mills High School in 1951 and took up farming with his father in California, MD. He was a rural mail carrier from 1969 until 1995 when he retired to care for his wife. He was also a St. Mary's County school bus driver and contractor from 1954 until just before his death; he was the youngest bus contractor in the county when he obtained his first contract in the 1960s. Valuing a Catholic education, Reggie worked three jobs to send his five children to local parochial schools.

Reggie spent many hours cultivating his garden and the produce was always abundant and shared with family and friends. He experimented with herbs, wines, and most recently honey bees with oversight from Viet Nguyen. He looked forward to the annual hog butchering ritual with extended family and especially enjoyed Christmas Eve dinner where he stood guard over the fryer turning out perfectly seasoned oysters. He was also known to turn out large pots of vegetable beef soup and delicious raisin cake.

One of his greatest pleasures was giving youngsters their first tractor ride and demonstrating how to gather eggs without disrupting the hens. He was always up for a game of pitch or a church dinner. He had endless patience with any task as well as a knack for repairing things; from meat slicers to paper shredders, he painstakingly took items apart, cleaned each piece, and put them back together so that they worked like new!

He was an active member of St. John Francis Regis Catholic Church and a member of the Knights of Columbus, St. John Francis Regis Chapter. He was also a member of the St. Mary's County School Bus Contractors Association.

The family will receive friends on Friday, April 4, 2014 from 4:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. with prayers recited at 6:00 p.m. at Mattingly-Gardiner Funeral Home, Leonardtown, MD. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, April 5, 2014 at 10:00 a.m. at St. John Francis Regis Catholic Church, Hollywood, MD with Father Keith Woods and Father Ray Schmidt officiating. Interment will follow in the church cemetery.

Pallbearers are Jack Garner, Kellan Tarleton, Brennan Tarleton, Travis Tarleton, Tom Marable, and Martin Evans. Honorary pallbearers are Mary Beth Cudd, Tara Tarleton, Chelsea Tarleton, Cole Tarleton, Blake Tarleton, and Ashlynn Tarleton.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Hospice of St. Mary's PO Box 625 Leonardtown, MD 20650, St. John's Catholic School, 43950 St. John's Road, Hollywood, MD 20636, or St. Mary's Ryken High School, 22600 Camp Calvert Road, Leonardtown, MD 20650.

Arrangements provided by Mattingly-Gardiner Funeral Home.