Willard Earl Reed 1889 - 1919

REED

Posted By: Connie Swearingen - volunteer (email)
Date: 2/7/2016 at 22:00:57

Mapleton Press
14 August 1919

Earl Reed Funeral Largely Attended

Services Held Sunday Afternoon at St. John’s M.E. Church Death the Result of An Accident

Funeral services were held Sunday afternoon at St. John’s M.E. Church for Willard Earl Reed, thirty year old son of Mr. and Mrs. L.E. Reed who passed away last Friday morning in the local hospital where he had been confined since July 19, when he was accidentally thrown from a haystacker and suffered injuries to his back which proved fatal.

The services at the church were conducted by the pastor, Rev. W.S. Handy. The number of persons attending the services was limited only b y the seating capacity of the church. During the services there was many a tear shed for the young man who came to such an untimely death while in the prime of his manhood and for the parents who have but recently been bereaved of another son who gave his life for his country in France. Following the services at the church the body was laid to rest in the family plot in Mt. Hope Cemetery.

The relatives from a distance who journeyed here for the last sad rites were Mr. and Mrs. T.J. Reed, Mr. and Mrs. Walter Reed and sons Dwight and Woodrow and Mrs. Effie Autin of Rosalie, Nebr., Mr. and Mrs. O. Buelley and daughters Lois and Francis of Winnebago, Nebr., Mrs. H.C. Gleason, Parker, S.D., Mrs. William S. Schrader and son, Jay of Kingsley and Mrs. Amelia Kelley of Denison. Members of the Modern Woodman Lodges of which organization the deceased was a member were also present in large numbers.

Willard Earl Reed was born in Maple Township near Mapleton, May 28, 1889 and grew to manhood on the farm of his parents northwest of town. He received his education in the public schools. In 1916 he went to Bowman, S.D. where he farmed for two years with his brother Elvin. March 1, 1918 he enlisted in the coast artillery and on March 7 was inducted into the service at Fort Logan, Colorado.

He was stationed for some time at Fort Caswell, N.C. but left there for France, September 20, 1918.

After spending more than six months overseas he returned to this country where he was honorable discharged from military service March 18, 1919.

The immediate surviving relatives are his parents, Mr. and Mrs. L.E. Reed, Glen Reed of Hornick; Lottie May, Delno and Nelsene, his aunt, Mrs. Peter Beachler of Mapleton and uncle Thomas Reed of Roselle, Neb., and two aunts, Mrs. Edith Schrader and Mrs. Currie Gleason of Parker, S.D.