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Obituary for Gary Glenn Reed
Gary Glenn Reed, 83, of Stuart passed away October 12, 2020 at the Stuart Community Care Center. Visitation will be held from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. Thursday, October 22, 2020 at the Johnson Family Funeral Home & Crematory Stuart Chapel. A Celebration of Life Service will be held 10:30 A.M. Friday, October 23 at the Stuart-Mt. Vernon United Methodist Church in Stuart. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the Gary Reed Memorial Fund and may be sent in care of, Johnson Family Funeral Home, PO Box 246, Stuart, Iowa 50250. Online condolences may be left at www.johnsonfamilyfuneralhome.com. Gary’s service will be live streamed and can be viewed after the fact on the Johnson Family Funeral Home Facebook page (www.facebook.com)
Gary Glenn Reed was born January 13, 1937, to Clifford Reed and Alvaretta (Betty) Porter. He grew up in Perry, IA, on his family’s farm. Gary was an only child who attended country school during his elementary years, and the Perry schools during his middle and high school years. He played varsity baseball as a left-handed pitcher and first-baseman. He also did well with basketball and track. With a personal best of 2:10 in the half mile, Gary competed at the Drake Relays. He played the Alto and Tenor saxophones in the marching and jazz bands.
Upon high school graduation in 1954, Gary was invited to try out as a pitcher for the minor-league baseball team Kansas City Athletics. But with an ailing left arm, he declined the offer. Instead, he attended trade school in Kansas City, MO, for the railroad and learned to send and receive Morse Code. Upon graduation, he was hired as a Telegrapher/Depot Agent for the Milwaukee Railroad in Sabula, IA, along the Mississippi River. After 5 years, he left the railroad to pursue a career with computers in Des Moines.
Gary met the love of his life, Marilyn Leighty of Dexter, IA, during high school at a Methodist Church retreat in Perry. On May 28, 1960, he and Marilyn were married at the Dexter United Methodist Church. In 1962, they purchased a farm and homestead in Waukee, IA. On November 30, 1963, they welcomed a daughter Sheryl. And on June 6, 1966, they welcomed a son Steven. In addition to raising livestock and farming, Gary obtained his insurance license to sell for Prudential and later for Northwestern Mutual. Gary and Marilyn were active members of the Waukee community and Waukee United Methodist Church for many years.
In August 1978, Gary and his family moved to Stuart, IA, and built a home on their new farm. He continued farming and later was employed with the State of Iowa in Des Moines. In 1980-81, his family hosted a foreign-exchange student from Tokyo, Japan – Tokuko Harada. Tukie remains a special part of the Reed family and has returned to Stuart with her family many times. And in 1982-83, they hosted a foreign-exchange student from Kassel, Germany – Lothar Zulch. Gary was on the Board of Directors for Patron’s Mutual Insurance Company in Stuart for many years. He and Marilyn were active members of the Stuart Mt. Vernon United Methodist Church.
Gary was a long-time, competitive horseshoe pitcher who was well-known and respected across Iowa as a champion pitcher. He competed at the Iowa State Fair for many years, winning many individual and team awards, including 1st place in horseshoe doubles. At age 60, Gary continued to be a fierce horseshoe competitor in Iowa Senior Olympics for a number of years—and placed 3rd in the individual division at the World Horseshoe Pitching Championship in Ohio.
For 8 years, Gary was in the National Guard and earned the designation of Expert Sharpshooter. He loved playing cards, especially in bridge and pitch clubs, square dancing, bowling, scroll saw woodworking, gardening and working on the farm. He had a good sense of humor, liked to write, was adventurous, and treasured time with family and friends. He also was a loyal fan at his children’s and grandchildren’s school and athletic events – attending them was his top priority. Gary and Marilyn celebrated more than 60 years of marriage. Those left behind to cherish his memory include his beloved wife Marilyn Reed of Stuart; his daughter Sheryl McAtee (Andy) of Stuart; son Steven Reed (Olga) of Urbandale; grandchildren Ryan and Olivia McAtee, and David and Nicholas Reed; brother-in-law and sister-in-law Jim and Shirley Wigton of Virginia; niece Julie Wigton-Bogusz (Ray) of Virginia and family; nephew Michael Wigton (Jennifer) of Clive and family.
