N Ray Reed

N. Ray Reed, age 85, of Charlottesville, Virginia, formerly of North East, Pennsylvania, died on Friday, September 6, 2024, at Our Lady of Peace Retirement Community. 

The second youngest of fourteen children. He was born September 11, 1938, in Kersey, PA, to the late Joseph and Frances Richards Reed. Ray graduated from North East High School in 1956 and after he joined the U.S. Air Force where he served until 1962. In September 1962, he married Palma Cerrie Reed. They were together for 55 years prior to Palma’s death in 2018. 

Palma and Ray spent the early years of their marriage in Washington, DC, but moved back to North East in 1976. Ray was a supervisor at Ridg-U-Rak until his retirement in 2000.

A gregarious individual, Ray liked social activities and to be around people. At different times in his life, he was involved in softball, bowling, golfing, hunting, fishing, card-playing, snowmobile riding, reading, puzzles (jigsaw and others), bird-watching and gardening. What he enjoyed most was making people smile and laugh. Quick-witted, he always had a joke or quip and then would look at you with a glint in his eye and that famous Ray Reed grin. It was impossible not to smile or laugh back. 

In addition to his wife and parents, he was preceded in death by his son, Edward Jay Reed, great-granddaughter, Willow Ray Fuller, grandson, Sean Victory, brothers, Lloyd and wife Mary, Robert “Bob” and wife Genevieve, Lyle and wife Lois, Ernie and wife Mary, Ralph “Popeye” and wife Skip, Bill and wife Eileen, James “Jim” and wife Mary Jane, Larry and wife Pat, Max and wife Jo Jo; sisters, Freda “Mae” Timblin and husband Tim, Josephine Hackett and husband Willard, Genevieve Felty and husband Otis, and Elsie Benden and husband Carl.

Ray is survived by three children, Brad Reed and wife Edyie, Suzanne Bednar and husband Matt, and Jody Reed; grandchildren, Jacob Reed, Alex Reed, Amanda Martin and husband Spenser, Robbie Haislip, Kristin Haislip, Cerri Haislip, Josiah Haislip, Meranda Bednar, Destiny Bednar, Cole Bednar, and Nicholas Bednar, and Katie Stephenson; great-grandchildren, Haden Parmarter, Harper Reed, Tucker Reed, Ravyn Reed, Samuel Martin, Leo Martin, Bailey Haislip, Eli Haislip and Griffin Haislip; sister-in-law, Janice Cerrie; numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews; and special friends, Jim and Diane Smith, and Robert Haislip.

Friends may call at the William D. Elkin Funeral Home, 65 S. Lake Street, North East on Wednesday 9/11 from 6 – 8 pm and are invited to attend a funeral service on Thursday 9/12 at 10:00 a.m. at the funeral home. Interment will be at St. Gregory Cemetery immediately thereafter. Memorials can be made to Our Lady of Peace Retirement Community, 751 Hillsdale Drive, Charlottesville, Virginia, 22901.

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