Patta Leigh (Blair) Reed
Marriages
Ed Milton Reed, Jr. - August 29, 1949
Obituaries
The Daily Sentinel page 6B - February 12, 2023
Patta Leigh Blair Reed
peacefully entered into
eternal rest on February 3,
2023 at HopeWest Hospice
Care Center.
To my loved ones... my
final goodbye is a reflection
of all I have been and loved, as a lasting memory of my
life. I hope my influence to my children, grandchildren,
and great-grandchildren shows unconditional love,
someone who was devoted to her family, was happy to
be a mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother to
the new special great-grandchildren.
Patta Leigh was born to Hiram Omer Blair and Fern
Pearl (Thompson) Blair, and two-year-old brother, Billy
Dean, on January 3, 1928. The family grew rapidly with
the birth of Bobby Gene, and one year later, Freeman
Joe. It was another 12 years before we welcomed with
love a little baby sister, Bonnie Lou.
Billy, Bob, Joe, and Patta were very close as they
weathered the period of the Depression and the Dust
Bowl- and saw what they considered wonders of
the world- the first television, then introduced us to
penicillin, polio shots, frozen food, plastic, contact
lenses, the Frisbee, radar, credit cards, ball point pens,
tape decks, electric typewriters, guys wearing earrings,
pizza, McDonald’s, and water pies.
Their parents made their home a place of love. Next to
their home was a vacant lot that became a playground,
as the boys made toys with wood blocks, and they made
forts - everything was creative. Grandparents were a big
influence in Patta and her siblings’ lives. They raised
fruits and vegetables and raised livestock to butcher.
Their grandpa would go to town once a month to get
their necessary items and would take Patta to go with
him. She would sit on the floor in the grocery store and
pick out the flour sacks knowing that would be her new
dress. Their grandma would make a doll of Sunbonnet
Sue with some of the material; the doll represented the
quilt pattern that is popular today. She had sparked
Patta’s interest in quilting.
Introduction to school opened a new life of Patta,
as she became ‘teacher’s pet’ in 1st grade. She did not
know why Mrs. Chamberlain kept her after school to
memorize stories, and take her to dinner meetings in the
community, standing on a table to tell her stories. She
took Patta to a regional contest and Patta won first. Patta
kept this certificate in her safety deposit box!
School became an important part in Patta’s life and
helped determine her passion. She was very active in
all events in High School and graduated from Fairview
High School in 1946. College was next on her list as she
enrolled at Southwestern State University, again very
active in school; she was a member of the drama club,
twirler with the band, enjoyed her sorority and excelled
in the classes. This was the return of G.I.’s from WWII,
and her life made a drastic turn when she met one of
those returning veterans, Ed Milton Reed, Jr.
Ed and Patta were married on August 29, 1949, and
education became a serious thing, as they were both
anxious to complete schooling and determine their
future life.
After graduation, Ed and Patta were invited to teach
school in Medicine Lodge, Kansas, and although they
were unsure of what they really wanted to do, they
decided to try it. They found what they both loved. Kids
and more education kept them busy as they continued
their education at Oklahoma State University, both
receiving their master’s degrees. Their superintendent
moved from Medicine Lodge to Liberal, Kansas, and
the Reeds followed him.
Liberal, Kansas was an educational paradise for them
- teaching, attending summer school to keep up on
educational techniques and most importantly the birth
of their two sons, Ed Milton III and Jeffrey Lynn.
They made lifelong friends in Liberal, as they were
all involved in education during the day and social
activities during the night.
Their most educational journey was to the Jefferson
County Schools in Colorado. Patta continued teaching
and keeping up with anything new in education. She
was a teacher for 17 years with Arlene Black.
Ed and Patta retired, but Patta could not handle
retirement and missed the kids, so she went back to
working with students. Finally, Ed said, “we have a new
pick-up and camper, and it leaves Monday on a monthly
trip. You are invited to go with me”. Thus ended Patta’s
educational journey of forty years.
Retirement for the Reed’s became a playtime as they
travelled all states west of the Mississippi, the National
Parks and into Canada. They also visited Alaska,
Hawaii, Acapulco, and Puerto Vallarta. They became
snowbirds with homes in Arizona and Texas, where
they lived in a cabin on a friend’s ranch.
Their eighties they spent with great friends and
sharing a devoted life to each other.
Patta was an active member of the Eastern Stars
Waunita Chapter, and a very important part of her life
was the P.E.O Chapter CY. She was also active in the
First Presbyterian Church. She liked to play bridge,
various card games, dominos, and enjoyed reading. In
her early years, she and Ed taught in their Presbyterian
Church and served in their Vacation Bible School. Patta
was known as an organizer, if you wanted something
done tell Patta! She was an avid Bronco fan. Her hat,
scarf, and shirt date back to her favorite Steve Watson,
who played during the Elway days. She cared deeply
for her many friends. The partnership of Ed and Patta
consisted of all the remodeling on their home and yard
work, for which they won “Yard of the Month” three
different times.
Patta was a devoted wife with a loving marriage filled
with love and warmth as she walked side by side with
her husband, Ed, of 73 years. The adventure of having
the best of the best was their family - sons, Ed Reed
III, and Jeff and his wife, Debbie; and then it gets
better when they became grandparents to Justin Reed
and wife Ashley, Kristen McGee and husband David,
Tiffany Hinton and husband Chris, Destinee Reed, and
Joshua Reed; and she leaves her legacy to her greatgrandchildren who have been taught to love and respect
their GG, Tessa, Brynne, Declan, Vivian, Addison and
Noah.
Patta was preceded in death by her parents Omer and
Fern Blair; her three brothers, Billy Dean, Bobby Gene,
Freeman Joe; and sister, Bonnie Lou.
A memorial service will be held on Wednesday,
February 15, 2023, at 3 pm, at First Presbyterian Church,
3940 27 1/2 Road, Grand Junction, CO 81506. She will
be laid to eternal rest with her beloved husband of 75
years, Ed Milton Reed, Jr. In lieu of flowers, memorial
donations may be made in Patta’s name to HopeWest
Hospice, 3090 N. 12th St, Unit B, Grand Junction, CO
81506, or at www.hopewestco.org
