Doris Reed

1935 - 2024

Doris Reed
June 27, 1935 - October 25, 2024
Doris "Granny" Elizabeth Reed, 89 years young went to be with God and her beloved husband, Waldo "Ray" Reed, on October 25, 2024 one day before their 65th wedding anniversary. She passed at home peacefully, surrounded by family and friends. Doris was a Southern girl born in Augusta, Georgia June 27,1935. She was raised in Lakeland, Florida following WWII. Doris was the 3rd of twelve and the last living of her siblings. Doris left home to attend Lee College in Tennessee as a senior. Friends introduced her to a handsome, curly haired midwestern guy named Ray with big dreams. They married after a blind date and took off on an adventure to Alaska stopping in Indiana to meet Ray's family and get a coat for the Southern beauty.
In 1959 they staked claim and "proved up" 160 acres of homestead property in Hatcher Pass-Palmer, Alaska where they raised their four children: Naomi (Tyrhen) Tigner, James (Jodi) Reed, Rhoda (Glen) Woodworth and Mark (Jerusha) Reed.
Doris was a strong, steadfast and independent woman who was a faithful and devout Christian. She was the matriarch of the family and led through examples of kindness, generosity, forgiveness, serving others and she never let anyone go hungry. Primarily a home maker, Doris had many wonderful stories to share about raising her children on the homestead. She frequently took in children to support them in getting through school. She would talk about carrying her.357 on her hip to keep the bears away, field dressing moose and pulling the school bus out of the ditch in the wintertime.
Doris lived on the original homestead until six years ago when her health began to decline following the 2018 earthquake; at which time she moved in with her oldest daughter, Naomi. She enjoyed gardening, mowing, exercising, and spending time with her neighbors. Granny really enjoyed all her special grandchildren: Ryan, Rachel, Rebecca, Reed, Jesse, Jacob, Lindsey, Ashley, Olivia, Whitney, and Glenn. She also had wonderful great grandchildren that she was close with: Kylie, Serena, Kenny, Kasen, Aiden, Avalyn, Brody, Ashton, Cyrus, Ivie, Kael, Lily, Sariah, Sammy, Leah and James. Finally, Granny had her constant companion, Hatcher, a teacup Yorkie, at her side when she passed.
The family will have a Celebration of Life service at the Government Peak Chalet in Hatcher Pass on November 30, 2024, at 1:00 p.m.