Bobby Gene Reed

Truly an extraordinary life story reflecting the grit and strength of a great generation in rural Arkansas, Bobby Gene Reed of Sheridan, Arkansas was born December 21, 1935 at Rowell, Arkansas, the son of the late Garvin Huston Reed and Effie Elizabeth Roberts Reed. Born on a farm as a sharecropper's son, he raised a great family and retired ultimately as president of the local railroad union. He was a member of Wesley Methodist Church in Pine Bluff, where he and his wife lived for over 50 years before moving to Sheridan. He was a locomotive engineer with Union Pacific for 42 years, and was an active member of the Railroad Union, having served as union president for five years. Bobby or "B.G.", as he was known to his friends, was always supportive of his son's athletic teams as they were growing up and coached a number of little league and youth football teams. He was affectionately known to many in Pine Bluff simply as "Coach Reed," coaching the Evening Lions and Guaranty Federal in Pine Bluff Little League. He helped out with coaching youth football with the Sam Taylor Bulldogs and the Lakeside Bluejays. He also supported his daughters at their choir and band concerts; all of his children were encouraged to pursue excellence in all of their endeavors. He and his wife enjoyed gardening, and together, were responsible for launching a private wholesale florist business and hybridizing a new unique variant of the African violet. Bobby was a proud and loving husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather, who leaves a rich legacy of what being a "Dad" is all about. Mr. Reed died Monday, December 15, 2014, at St. Vincent Hospice (Arkansas Hospice) in Little Rock, at the age of 79. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his siblings, Francis Caruth, Catherine Galloway, William Reed, and Katie Diffee; and a niece, Patricia Kay Diffee. Survivors include his wife of almost 60 years, Jane Reed of Sheridan; children, Carl Reed and his wife Diane of Layton, Utah, Joe Reed and his wife Tina of Pleasanton, California, Jean Reed-Woods of Little Rock, Merri Thompson and her husband Stephen of Sheridan, and Michael Reed residing in southern England. Additionally he cherished his ninegrandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren, and a host of other family members and friends. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to Arkansas Hospice, 2 St. Vincent Circle, Little Rock, Arkansas 72205. There will be no public visitation, however, the family welcomes friends at the graveside funeral service, 2 p.m. Sunday, December 21, 2014 at Rowell Cemetery, Rowell, Arkansas. Emails may also be sent to the family email address: ArkansasHeroes@gmail.com. Arrangements by Memorial Gardens Funeral Home of Sheridan (870)942-1306. To sign the online guestbook, www.memorialgardenssheridan.com.