Sidney Ray Reed Jr.

Funeral services for long-time Chugiak resident Sidney Ray Reed Jr., 80, will be 3 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 22 at St. Andrew’s Catholic Church in Eagle River, with the Rev. Eric Wiseman officiating. Burial will be later at Highland Cemetery in Lawton, Okla.

Reed was born on May 4, 1928 in Ringgold, Neb., to Sidney and Elizabeth Reed Sr. He passed away from leukemia peacefully at home on Oct. 16, 2008 with his family by his side.

Reed enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1946 and retired in 1988 as sergeant major. While stationed in Alaska he fell in love with it and decided to make it his home. After retiring from the Army, he worked civil service and also for the University of Alaska in Anchorage. He lived in Fairbanks from 1954 to 1988, Anchorage from 1988 to 1999, Eagle River from 1999 to 2007 and then in Chugiak from 2007 until his death.

He had earned special awards for outstanding blood donations through the VFW. He also earned numerous awards in the military and civil service. He was a member of St. Andrew’s Catholic Church, a lifetime member of the VFW Post #9785 and American Legion Post #33 in Chugiak.

According to his family, Reed was a trapper, gold prospector and loved hunting and fishing and gardening, spending time with family and friends, and telling stories of his days in the Army and his younger years.

“He enjoyed helping people and always had room for others. Whether it be a place to stay or an extra plate at the table, the door was always open,” they wrote. “He was a great father, husband, grandfather, brother, uncle and a true friend to all. He is loved and will be missed.”

Reed was preceded in death by his parents, his wife of 32 years, Patsy (Coosewoon) Reed, son Gordon Reed and granddaughter Carey Ann Evens.

He is survived by two sons and a daughter-in-law, Michael and Lynn Reed of Anchorage and Sidney R. Reed III of Peters Creek; four daughters and sons-in-laws, Brenda and Dennis Banks of Soldotna, Kim and Donald Norton of Troy, Miss., Tammy and Ron Scroggens and Olivia and Roland Monsen, all of Eagle River; two brothers and a sister-in-law, Ellis Reed of Anchorage and Alvin and Ethel Reed of Portland, Ore.; one sister, Juanita Herrick of Battle Mountain, Nev.; 11 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.

Service arrangements by Kehl’s Palmer Mortuary.