Obituary of John Thomas Reed

John Thomas Reed Funeral services for John Thomas Reed of Elsberry, MO, formerly of Foley, MO, will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, May 28, 2010 at Carter-Ricks Funeral Home in Elsberry. Rev. Allen Calkins, pastor of the Star Hope Baptist Church, will officiate with burial in Star Hope Cemetery near Elsberry. Serving as pallbearers will be Eric Reed, Nathen Reed, Travis Gibson, Jesse Gibson; Steve Sharpe and Gary Day; honorary pallbearers will be Gloria Gibson, Angela Goforth, Ernie Potts, Steve Anders, Vanessa Finnegan, Breanna Potts, Tanell Anders and Kayla Anders. Mr. Reed, 82, passed away late Tuesday evening, May 25, 2010 at the Elsberry Health Care Center near Elsberry. Born February 12, 1928 in Elsberry, he was the son of Homer Milton and Nellie L. Gray Reed. A lifelong resident of eastern Lincoln County, he was employed by Galloway Elevator from 1950-56; was a machinist from 1957-62; he farmed from 1962-65; and worked for Hillside Gardens from 1965 until he retired in 1997. An avid outdoorsman, he enjoyed hunting, fishing, camping and horseshoes. He was a member of the Star Hope Baptist Church near Elsberry. He was preceded in death by his parents, Homer and Nellie Reed; three brothers: Homer Louis Reed, Charlie Powell Reed and George Robert Reed; and three sisters: Jean Knox, June Norton and Becky Stone. Survivors include one son, Tom Reed and his wife, Mindy, of Elsberry; two daughters: Rhonda Kay Williams and her husband, Roger, of Washington, MO, and Mary Renee Reed of Barnhart, MO; six grandchildren: Eric Reed, Travis Gibson, Gloria Gibson, Jesse Gibson, Nathen Reed and Angela Goforth and one great-grandson, Nicholas Gibson. He also leaves his companion, Anna Marie Blake of Foley; her children, Ernie Potts and Debbie Anders; and Marie's grandchildren: Vanessa Finnegan, Breanna Potts, Tanell Anders and Kayla Anders. Also surviving are three sisters: Cattie Graves of Foley, Rosie Adams and her husband, Alvin, Jr., of Eolia, MO, and JoAnn Ray and her husband, Jerry, of Bowling Green, MO; several nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends. Visitation will be held from 4:00 - 8:00 p.m. Thursday, May 27, 2010 at Carter-Ricks Funeral Home in Elsberry. Memorials may be made to Star Hope Cemetery or the American Cancer Society in care of Carter-Ricks Funeral Home, 107 South Fifth Street, Elsberry, MO 63343. Online condolences may be made at www.carterricksfuneralhome.com.