Ethel Reed

(From Parker Mortuary)

Ethel Mae Reed, age 88, Joplin, passed away on Monday, May 26, 2025 in Joplin.

Ethel was born August 28, 1936 in Enid, OK, daughter of the late Hubert and Ruby (Griffith) Grim. She lost her father at a young age, and moved to Wagoner, SD with her mother as a child where she attended school before losing her mother at the age of 15. She would then move back to Enid, OK to be adopted by her grandparents, Archa and Mary Ann Haymaker. 

She met and married Gene B. Reed on March 24, 1954, and the couple moved to Ulysses, KS where they owned and operated the local airport, Reed Air Inc. for several years before retiring and moving to Kimberling City, MO where they owned and operated Kimberling City Tire for several years. She loved spending time in her garden, and was very talented with the tending to her plants. She was also an avid thrift shopper who could stretch a penny a mile. She will be missed by her family very much.

In addition to her parents and grandparents, Ethel was preceded in death by her husband, Gene B. Reed; an infant sister, and a brother and his wife, Frank and Peggy Grim.

Survivors include her children, Danny Reed and wife Dena, Randy Reed and wife Tracie of Pearland, TX, Melinda Benham of Webb City, MO, and Kimberly Johnson and husband Randy of Kirbyville, MO; nine grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren.

Cremation arrangements are under the direction of Parker Mortuary with no service planned at this time.