Larry E. Reed
PHOENIX – Best described as a good and gentle man, Larry Reed transitioned from this life after a fall in the home. Born in Watseka Illinois to Clara Lois and Walter Reed, he was raised in La Porte Indiana. Four years later, a sister Joy was born into the family. A lucky sister to have a caring brother with whom she remained close through their shared 82 years.
Memories of being raised in a small town where everyone is known, he loved telling stories of his boyhood prowess playing baseball and having freedom to explore and appreciate nature. Before big box stores existed, he worked in his grandfather’s furniture and general store that also had a restaurant. He recalled memories of people enjoying movies projected onto the side of his grandfather’s 2 storied building.
Larry excelled in many things. As a quiet intellect he did well in school and learned from his father to be quite handy with all home repairs. Through high school and before graduating from Indiana University he performed with his 9-piece band, taking a year from college to tour the country playing Big Band music and later Progressive Jazz. He learned from the experience that he did not like life on the road as a musician but the money paid for his college education. Married during college, to his high school sweetheart, Merry Fuller, he turned his interest to Business and Finance. He was a 32-degree Freemason and a member of the Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity.
Larry retired from his career in Banking to care for his wife Merry before her death in 2004. Married for 47 years, they raised 3 children living in Morristown New Jersey, and later Michigan City Indiana. In retirement he valued the entrepreneurial spirt of those starting a business and volunteered with SCORE (Senior Corp of Retired Executives) and with immigrants starting new lives with the IRC (International Rescue Committee). He found a source of growth and inspiration as a member of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Phoenix, serving on the Board and as Chair of the Finance Committee.
A voracious reader of current events, he also studied the lives of our nation’s Founding Fathers and U.S. Presidents. His patience and depth of knowledge helped those, known to flounder, to understand events in World and American History. His mental acuity and ability to problem solve earned him the nickname “wizard” during his career.
Larry is survived by his sister Joy Scholl, daughters Amy Bryant, Megan Cuesta and their children Carrie, Mia, Dalilah, Liam and Shay. Larry and his longtime companion Linda Vance were together for 16 good years. He embraced Linda and her family Jennie Scott, Joel Vance, Tian Xue (Annabelle) Vance, Shujuan Qui and grandchildren Casey, Charles, and Troy. He was preceded in death by his parents, a son Michael and Linda’s son Brian. He was grateful for the love and support of this extended family and his friends. He was so amazingly loving and strong, true to his character. He was loved. His grandchildren hold dear his sense of humor recalling when asked “if you could commit one crime and get away with it ‘scott-free’ what would you do?” he replied, “I would rob a Dairy Queen and get one Blizzard.” He inspired by reminding them “Imagine what you can be”. Quiet, but a good listener, he conversed and bridged differences with understanding. He will be missed. Larry believed in Kindness, Music, and the Radical Acceptance of others. A service, in remembrance, will be held at a later date.