Mary Elizabeth Townsend Reed

Mary Elizabeth Townsend Reed, 95, passed away peacefully of natural causes in Clearwater, FL on March 2, 2007. Libby, as she was affectionately known, was born in St. Paul, MN on Jan. 22, 1912 to Oscar and Margaret Townsend. During Libby's childhood, her grandfather, Oscar Townsend, was President of the Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati and Indianapolis Railroad, known as the Big Four Railroad. Her father, Oscar Townsend Jr., was Vice President of the Chicago Great Western Railroad Company. Libby and her family moved to the North Shore of Chicago while she was still a baby. She graduated from New Trier High School, then attended Briarcliff Finishing School in New York. Libby graduated from Northwestern University in Evanston, IL in 1934, where she majored in speech and drama. She starred in all their productions and had a very promising stage career. The Murine eye wash company featured Libby's beautiful blue eyes for many years in their advertising. Her father would not allow them to use her whole face as he felt that was unlady-like. In 1935, Libby married William Thomas Reed, whom she met in English class as a sophomore at New Trier High School. Libby and her husband resided on the North Shore near Chicago until the late 1960's, where William was President of the family owned Reed Candy Company, established in 1893. The Reed Candy Company was famous for its butterscotch wafers, which were included in meal rations distributed to WWII soldiers. In 1939 Libby and William had a son, William Townsend Reed. As a family, they spent much of their time at the Reeds' lake home in Three Lakes, WI. This was one of Libby's favorite places and her summer home for the last 70 years. Winters were spent in Clearwater Beach, FL, where she was a member of Carlouel Yacht Club, and crowned Queen of Sasparilla in 1952. Following the passing of her husband in 1968, Libby purchased and remodeled “The Gatehouse”, one of the Beach's oldest existing homes. This was to be her winter retreat for the remainder of her life. In addition to seeing every state in the Union by rail, she enjoyed traveling the world with her good friend, Mary Burchenal. Her favorite trip with Mary was a tour of Europe, accompanied by their grandchildren. Libby was a survivor of three cancer surgeries, a fact that she was very proud to admit. English Springer Spaniels were Libby's constant companions. She spent mornings “improving her mind” with a crossword puzzle and her evenings playing backgammon and sipping cocktails with friends and family enjoying a Gulf Coast or Wisconsin lake sunset. Libby was preceded in death by her husband, William Thomas Reed; and her son, William Townsend Reed. She will be greatly missed by her grandchildren, William Townsend Reed Jr. and his wife, Nanette, Douglas Townsend Reed and his wife, Nicole and Margaret Fraser Reed; great-grandchildren, Meredith (daughter of William and Nanette), Kendall and Townsend (children of Douglas and Nicole) and Alexa (daughter of Margaret); and daughter-in-law, Jeannie Veeneman and her husband, Wayne, all of White-fish, MT. Also, daughter-in-law, Janet M. Reed of Clearwater; three stepgrandchildren and five stepgreat-grandchildren, all from Clearwater and Port St. Lucie, FL. Also, beloved family member, Bob Koshuta of Three Lakes, WI. She also leaves behind her faithful English Springer Spaniel, Toby. As per Libby's request, no Memorial Service is planned at this time. Cremation has taken place, and a family celebration of her life will be held in Three Lakes, WI this coming summer. In lieu of flowers, her family suggests memorial contributions may be sent to the English Springer Spaniel Rescue Association (ESRA), 2721 Walker Lee Drive, Los Alamitos, CA, 90720-4935, or

www.springerrescue.org or a charity of choice.