Roy Burnell Reed

Roy B. Reed passed away at the Southbrook Skilled Nursing Facility in the 98th year of his life. He was born October 21, 1922, in Chloride, Missouri, the oldest child of Claude and Nora Reed. He spent his growing-up years on a farm and learned to do everything that was required to make a living. He learned to cut hair with a set of clippers, a comb, and a pair of scissors that he had earned by selling seeds door to door. Growing up during the depression, he learned how to make the most of everything. His motto then, and throughout his life, was “use it up, wear it out, make it do, or throw it out”, a motto which served him well throughout his life (although he did have trouble with the throw it out bit – always thought he’d be able to find a use for everything). He and his sister and brother spent many happy hours roaming in the woods near their various farms. When he grew up a little, Roy worked in his father’s lumber mills. During down time, he and his best friend from high school, Leo Asher, would ride their bikes all over the area near Chloride. One of their favorite escapades was to peddle to the top of the long hill going to Lesterville. They would then coast down the hill, often times with no hands on the handlebars. They did not use the brakes, and so could reach very high speeds. When he graduated from high school, Word War II was in full swing, so he and Leo joined the Army together. His first tour of duty was riding the Union Pacific trains from Denver, Colorado to Green River, Wyoming and back to Denver as an MP. During a turn around stopover in Green River, he met and fell in love with a beautiful nurse, Lois Hunter, a lifelong resident of Rock Springs, WY. They were married on July 1, 1944, in St. Louis, MO. Roy then joined the Engineer Corps of the Army and was shipped overseas. He spent a lot of time building pontoon bridges over rivers which the Germans had destroyed in their retreat. After VE day, he was shipped out of Marseille, France, though the Panama Canal, on his way to Japan and the fighting there, but VJ day happened before he could get there, so for a short time, he was part of the Occupation Forces there. After being discharged, he attended the University of Wyoming for 1 year, returned to Rock Springs, and entered the Apprentice program, where he became a carpenter. He worked for various construction firms in the area until the family moved to St. Louis for 5 years, where he worked for a firm specializing in upscale construction. There he acquired the skills he would later improve upon to become a finish carpenter. Roy enjoyed hunting and fly fishing, but more than anything, he loved his family, teaching to his grandchildren—as he had to his children—to be self-reliant, generous, caring, loyal, true, and loving. A Celebration of Life for Roy will be held on Monday, July 6, 2020 at 7:00 pm from the Cole Family Chapel. Visitation period will begin Monday, July 6, 2020 at 5:30 pm. Interment will be held in Rock Springs, WY. Online condolences may be made from www.colefamilyfuneralhomes.com

Roy Burnell Reed

October 21, 1922 - July 2, 2020