Dorris Mae (Gripp) Reed (2019)

BENNINGTON, CRAWFORD, GRIPP, HEATH, KALE, LICHTSINN, REED

Posted By: Pat Hochstetler (email)
Date: 11/8/2023 at 18:04:35

Kale Funeral Home
Osceola, Iowa

Dorris Mae Reed, daughter of Harvey C. Gripp and Hattie B. Heath Gripp was born May 6, 1922 in Hanley Falls, Iowa and peacefully passed from this life Wednesday, April 3, 2019 at Clarke County Hospital in Osceola, Iowa at ninety-six years of age.

Dorris received her education in St. Charles, Iowa and graduated from St. Charles High School in 1939.

She was united in marriage to John Fred Reed, Jr. on September 22, 1940 at New Virginia, IA and one daughter, Sandra Sue blessed this union. Soon after their marriage, Fred was stationed throughout Florida with the U.S. Coast Guard. Dorris and Sandra soon followed and joined him until his discharge in 1944.

When they returned to Truro, Fred Jr. and Dorris purchased the Produce and Feed business which was known as Reed Feed Grain. They later consolidated with Fred's brothers in the fertilizer, chemical and lumber business known as Reed Brothers. In 1960, Fred and Dorris moved the feed and grain business to Winterset which they sold in 1979. They continued to operate the Truro business until 1982.

In 1997, Fred and Dorris moved to Osceola to make their home near their daughter, Sandra and her husband Denis Kale. They continued to spend their winters in Florida first at Long Boat Key and then Titusville.

In early years, Dorris seldom missed a softball or basketball game of Sandra’s and also enjoyed Todd’s baseball and football games and felt fortunate to be able to attend Reed and Ely's school events. She loved to travel and continued on many adventures though the years including a trip to Europe with Sandy and Denny and to Mexico in order to be Todd and Alisha's flower girl at their wedding. Recent years have been filled with her love of all her game clubs with her girls not only in Osceola but Truro as well. Whether it be the hundreds of games of Rummy Cube with Jeri and Shari, serious games of hand and foot (house rules of course) or the infamous dice game for nickels, Dorris loved it all!.

She was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star, joining Ivy Chapter in 1955 and served as Worthy Matron in 1960. In later years, Ophir Chapter #267 in Osceola became her star home and she received her fifty year recognition while a member there. Dorris also enjoyed being a member of the Red Hat Society in Osceola, P.E.O and she also served as Director at American State Bank in Osceola.

Those relatives who preceded Dorris in death were her parents, Harvey and Hattie; husband, John Fred Reed, Jr.; brothers, Robert L. "Pete" Gripp and his wife, Jane, Lloyd E. "Bus" Gripp and wife, Ester "Tiny" Gripp; sister, Lola Bennington and husband, Donald Bennington; niece, Pat Lichtsinn, brother-in-law, Herb Reed and wife Dottie Reed and sister-in-law, Virginia Reed.

Dorris leaves to cherish her memory; daughter, Sandra Sue Kale and husband Denis of Osceola, IA, grandson, Todd Kale and wife, Alisha of Osceola, IA, great-grandson, Reed Kale of Osceola, IA, great-granddaughter, Abby Kale and great-grandson, Ethan Kale both of Garner, Iowa, great-grandson, Ely Crawford of Osceola, Iowa; brother-in-law, Harry Reed of West Des Moines, Iowa; sister-in-law, Marjorie Reed of Winterset, IA as well as many nieces, nephews, other relatives and many, many friends.
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Coordinator's note: Per Madison County Birth Record, the deceased was born in South Township, Madison County.

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Madison Obituaries maintained by Linda Griffith Smith.
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