Oleta Mae Reed

Oleta Mae Duncan Reed, 86 years old, passed away on Wednesday, April 27, 2016. She was born on August 24, 1929 in Granbury, Hood County, Texas, the youngest child of Charles Edward "Charlie" and Alma Ida (Bernhardt) Duncan. She grew up in the small rural community of Ivan, Texas and went to school in Breckenridge and Graham, where she graduated from high school in 1946. At a very young age, she learned to ride horses, shoot a gun, and help out on the family stock farm. Her father was well known as a progressive worker in soil conservation in Stephens County, Texas. Oleta especially liked to help her father with taking cattle to the stock market. As a young girl, she loved animals and had a pet squirrel and a pet pig. Education was important to her so when she was older she attended TCU in Ft. Worth, Texas. Oleta married J. L. Reed on September 1, 1947 in Olney, Texas. Oleta and J.L. lived in Dimmitt and Olney before moving to Ft. Worth and later lived in White Settlement and then settled in Benbrook, Texas for 42 years. After J.L. died, Oleta moved to Henderson, Nevada to be close to her son and his family. In her later years, she moved to Idaho Falls to be near her daughter. Oleta was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary in Benbrook where she held several offices. She was always an active participant in her children's education and helped out as a volunteer in their classes. She loved working with children all of her life. She and J.L. coached their son's baseball teams and Oleta served as a Den Mother for Cub Scouts and was an advisor for Junior Achievement. Being a true native Texan, she spoke with a Texas accent and called everyone "honey" and "darling". She was a friendly, giving, and generous person. Her grandchildren called her "Granny" and so did all of their friends. Oleta lived at Good Samaritan Village in Idaho Falls at the time of her death. The family is especially grateful for the compassionate care she received from the staff and especially for the love bestowed upon her by Rene. Oleta was a member of St. Luke's Episcopal Church. She enjoyed going to the Wednesday services with her daughter and participating in the lunch gathering before the service. Oleta was a talented seamstress and was also able to crochet by just looking at an article or pattern. She crocheted many afghans for her family, especially her children and grandchildren. One Christmas, she crocheted fifty doilies for the entire Sunnyside Elementary staff as a favor for her daughter. She loved to travel and take family vacations. When her children lived in Las Vegas, she enjoyed many holidays and vacations there and was happy playing on the slot machines. She bought an old slot machine from her winnings on one trip and took the slot machine home to Texas. Oleta was beyond-wonderful ... truly a stellar Mom, Granny, and a loving, intelligent woman. She will always be remembered for her great gusto for life ... for her gift of enjoying the everyday and of spending so many happy hours with her children and grandchildren. She was a special woman indeed. Oleta is survived by her son: James Leon Reed and his wife Patricia Reed, of Idaho Falls, ID; her daughter Patricia Kay Reed Moor and her husband Kenneth S. Moor of Idaho Falls, ID; granddaughter Megan Keller and her husband Steven Keller of Idaho Falls, ID, three grandsons: Mitchell Moor and his wife Danielle Moor of Idaho Falls, ID; Ricky Ard of Cape Canaveral, FL; and James Reed of Idaho Falls, ID; six great-grandchildren; sister-in-law Mildred Reed; brother-in-law Clyde Denny; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband J.L. Reed in 1997; her parents; and her siblings: McCoy Duncan; Bonnie Ilene Duncan, Virginia Lee Duncan Kilgore Smith and Charlie Edward "CE" Duncan, Jr.