Search Reeves County Obituary Records

Reeves County death records and obituaries are maintained by the County Clerk in Pecos, Texas. Located in Far West Texas along the Pecos River, Reeves County has vital records dating from 1903.

Reeves County Clerk Death Records

The Reeves County Clerk's office in Pecos is the local registrar for vital records. Death certificates for events occurring in Reeves County from 1903 to the present are held here. The clerk accepts in-person and mail requests. Under Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 193, records less than 25 years old require qualified applicant status. Records 25 years or older are open to the public.

Reeves County spans a large area of the Trans-Pecos and Chihuahuan Desert in Far West Texas. Pecos is the county seat, located along the Pecos River and Interstate 20. The town is famous for hosting what some call the world's first rodeo in 1883. Agriculture -- particularly cantaloupe growing along the Pecos River -- was once a major industry, though water depletion has reduced it. Oil and gas production now dominates. The county has a largely Hispanic population. The DSHS online system is the most practical way to request death certificates given the county's remote location.

Searching Reeves County Obituaries

Order Reeves County death certificates online at ovra.txapps.texas.gov. The DSHS statewide index covers Reeves County from 1903. For genealogy, FamilySearch at familysearch.org and the Texas State Library at tsl.texas.gov are the main free resources. Legacy.com at legacy.com carries obituary notices from the Pecos Enterprise and area papers.

Requesting Reeves County Death Certificates

Mail a completed application, notarized signature, copy of your photo ID, and a check or money order for $21 to: Reeves County Clerk, P.O. Box 848, Pecos, TX 79772. Additional copies are $4 each. State requests go through dshs.texas.gov/vs. Requirements are at dshs.texas.gov/vs/requirements.aspx.

Historical Reeves County Obituary Records

Reeves County death records from the early 1900s reflect a frontier ranching and railroad town community. The county was created in 1883, the same year the first rodeo reportedly took place in Pecos. The Texas and Pacific Railway crossed the Pecos River here, making Pecos a shipping point for cattle. Early records document cowboys, ranchers, railroad workers, and Hispanic families with deep roots along the Pecos River valley. The introduction of irrigation agriculture in the early 20th century drew additional settlers. The Texas State Library holds microfilm of early county vital records. FamilySearch has indexed Texas death collections with Reeves County entries. Cemetery records in Pecos hold burial data useful for genealogy research.

The Texas DSHS Vital Statistics Section maintains the statewide death record index that includes Reeves County entries from 1903 to the present.

The Reeves County Clerk in Pecos maintains death certificates and vital records for this Far West Texas county from 1903 forward.

Texas Law and Reeves County Death Records

Under Texas Health and Safety Code Section 193.003, death certificates must be filed within 10 days. Records under 25 years are restricted per Chapter 193. Older records are public. Section 193.007 covers delayed registration. The DSHS at dshs.texas.gov/vs/death maintains the statewide index including Reeves County.

Reeves County Obituary Resources

Contact the clerk at (432) 447-5432, order online at ovra.txapps.texas.gov, search at FamilySearch and the Texas State Library at tsl.texas.gov. Obituaries appear on Legacy.com.

Nearby Counties

Reeves County is located in Far West Texas along the Pecos River.