Obituary for Steve Reed

Steve Reed was led by his angels, including his brother Jimmy Reed, to his Heavenly Home, on Thursday, April 16, 2015, following a brief illness. Steve was a resident of the Crabtree Peel Group Home at the Opportunity Center. Steve has always been a very happy, loving, kind, tender, sweet man. He never had a cross word to say to anyone. He loved everyone and they in turn loved him. He was described by many as a sweet gentle man with a sweet soul.

Steve was born in Oklahoma City, OK on August 4, 1951, and was 63 years old at the time of his death. He was adopted by Scott and Maxine Reed in 1957 and lived in Oklahoma City until his parents moved to Owasso. After Steve’s dad passed away, he and his mom moved to Sapulpa, OK where they lived until her death in 1982. He lived in a group home in Sapulpa and worked at the Work Place, similar to our Opportunity Center. He had many friends and family there. In 1990, he moved to Ponca City to be cared for by his brother and family, Jimmy and LaNell Reed. He worked at the Opportunity Center for many years and also worked at Furr’s Cafeteria, rolling their silverware for several years before they closed. He loved working at Furr’s and made many friends there. He loved talking to all the folks that came in and walked by where he was working. At that time in his life, he was living at the Broadway Plaza Apartments and loved living in his own apartment. He told many he had always wanted his own apartment and now he had one. Again at Broadway Plaza, he made many lifetime friends. He was well taken care of by so many of the little ladies that also lived there. He enjoyed the attention!

After the death of Steve’s brother Jimmy in 2002, Steve’s health began to fail and his ability to walk around became harder. Because of this, LaNell moved him into the Village Home at the Opportunity Center Village Campus. Then, he moved into the Crabtree Peel Group Home and was residing there at the time of his death. He worked at the Opportunity Center until last year when he retired because of his health. He so enjoyed working and the people he worked with. Steve was a bell ringer at Christmas time for the Salvation Army. He always looked forward to ringing the bells. They always told him he was very good at it because he would bring in more money than any of the other bell ringers. As his health failed, he was forced to give up ringing bells.

Steve loved the Opportunity Center and loved living there. The staff always took such good care of him and they all loved him as much as he loved them. It was a mutual admiration society for them.

Steve leaves behind his beloved Sister, LaNell Reed, nieces, nephews and their families, Kathey and Eddie Farmer, Jimmy, Mandy and Reed Farmer, Katy, Doug Hudson, Noah, Arleigh and Chipper, Jordan and Holly Farmer, Kristi Reed and Travis Grimm, Jacye, Jadyn, and Jenna Grimm, all of Ponca City. Cyndy, David & Korey Smith, of Oklahoma City, and Kasey and Jon Booth, Colton, and Samuel, of Skiatook, OK. Gene and Judy Casey, of Ponca City, Jason, Amber, Addy, and Jameson Casey, of Terre Haute, IN, Monty Casey, Mike and Chariety, Casey and Willow, of Tonkawa, OK, Tommy and Cherrie Casey of Aurora, CO, Nick and Charlotte Guthrie, Corbin and Charleigh, and Tyler and Jamie Guthrie, and Miles, also of Aurora, CO. He also leaves behind many friends and family too numerous to mention.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Scott and Maxine Reed, his brother Jimmy Reed, and many aunts and uncles.

Visitation for Steve will be held at Trout Funeral Home Saturday, April 18th until 8:00 pm and Sunday, April 19th from 1:00 pm until 8:00 pm. Steve’s family will be at LaNell’s home at 1708 Donahoe Drive.

There will be a Celebration of Life for Steve at the Opportunity Center Building at 2255 N. Union, on Monday, April 27th at 2:00pm. Please come and celebrate Steve’s love of life and bring your favorite story to share.

Steve was a member of the West Grand Church of Christ. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Steve’s memory to the Opportunity Center or the Northern Oklahoma Hospice.

Source: Trout Funeral Home