James Ruhl Reed (“Jim”), 87, passed away peacefully surrounded by family at his home in Winnemucca, Nevada following a brief illness.
Originally from Kansas City, Kansas, Jim graduated from high school in Springfield, Missouri in 1952.
He is a proud veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps and a graduate of Northrop Institute of Technology (Aeronautical Engineering) in Los Angeles.
Jim spent the majority of his adult years in Southern California enjoying the climate and the people.
He enjoyed working in the yard, playing a variety of sports (skiing, football, bowling, and more), and loved to build things.
For many years he worked in the aerospace industry. He moved on to specialty van conversion for industries including law enforcement and education, enjoying the challenge of design and fabrication.
Jim never retired but continued working in positions that allowed him to be with people and serve his community.
Following the death of his wife, Tricia, in 2018, Jim moved to Winnemucca to be near family and quickly made it his home.
He enjoyed working for local businesses and meeting new friends.
A life-long Christian, Jim especially valued his worship communities at both the First Baptist Church of Winnemucca and the Winnemucca Christian Fellowship.
These relationships have brought comfort to him and his family during his final months.
Family was one of the most important things to Jim. Reed family reunions and his “Sibling Reunions” are cherished events.
He enjoyed high school reunions and kept in touch with classmates over the years.
More recently, he has enjoyed video calls with his siblings and other family members and friends.
He is preceded in death by his wife, Patricia Jolene, his parents Ruhl and Aileen Reed, and his sister Jean Marie Offill.
He is survived by his children from a previous marriage: Debra (Daniel) Fox-Gliessman, Laura (Larry - deceased) Lecumberry, and Patricia Fox; his children with Patricia Jolene: Vanessa Reed, Susan Reed, Daniel (Chelsea) Reed, and Samantha Reed Ponce, as well as his sisters Betty (Hillard - deceased) Grannemann, Martha (Willard) Ward, and Sandra (Jim) Herman.
He also leaves behind many beloved grandchildren and great-grandchildren, cousins, nieces, and nephews.
The family greatly appreciates the loving care provided to Jim by Daniel and Chelsea during his final months as well as the hospice support provided by the staff of Genesis Home Health Services of Winnemucca.
Following cremation, Jim and Tricia will be interred together at the Northern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Fernley, NV.
A Celebration of Life for Jim will be held at the First Baptist Church of Winnemucca, Sunday, October 23, 2022 at 12:30 p.m.
A folded copy of this poem adaptation was carried by Jim in his wallet.
A recorded audio was made of him reading the poem aloud in September 2022 following his brain cancer diagnosis.
“Don’t grieve for me, for now I’m free;
I took His hand when I heard Him call;
I turned my back and left it all.
If my parting has left a void,
Then fill it with remembered joy.
My life’s been full, I savored much;
Good friends, good times, a loved one’s touch.
A friendship shared, a laugh, a kiss;
Ah yes, these things, I too, will miss.
Perhaps my time seemed all too brief;
Don’t lengthen it now with undue grief.
Life up your hearts and share with me;
God wanted me now, He set me free.”
Adapted from the poem “I’m Free” by Anne
Lindgren Davison
