She is the daughter of George Edward Reese and the former Dorothy Irene Shaffer, newly deceased. Her sister and brothers are: Sandra Jean Streeter, Eward Clifton Reese and Gerald Vernon Reese.

Kathy Reese Austin, of Chrchville, New York, and Frank (Frankie) Austin, of Bergen, New York, had two sons: David of North Carolina, and Shawn of Bergen, New York.