Glen Howard Reed

Glen Howard Reed was born in rural Appleton City to Jim and Bessie Reed on December 29, 1933. He was the youngest of the nine Reed children. Glen went to elementary school in the area and graduated from Appleton City High School in 1951. He was awarded a scholarship to MU but neither Glen nor his family had the money for him to attend. He decided to try farming initially and then took a job as a welder and bulldozer driver on a gas pipeline. Due to this new job, he was able to come home for Christmas with money in his pocket. He bought his mom her first new coat and a new Stetson for his dad. That was one of his favorite memories. One of his bosses on the pipeline, Emmett Wilkerson, had a severe scar on his face from a fire, and Glen helped him care for it. This was the start of his interest in medicine, and with Emmett's encouragement, Glen decided to take the money he earned and go back to school.
In 1955 along with Don Yoss, Howard Yoss, and Richard Fenwick, Glen headed to the University of Missouri in Columbia where he declared his major as pre-med. During his pre-med years, he married Sharon Ilene O'Rear in September of 1956, and Marcus Glen was born to this union on August 5, 1957. In 1959, Glen received his bachelor's degree and started medical school. Stephanie Beth joined the family in 1962, and Glen graduated from medical school in 1963. He completed his training at Kansas City General and then returned to practice medicine in Appleton City under the guidance of Dr. William H. Ellett-the same doctor that delivered him years earlier.
In 1966, Glen enlisted in the Navy and completed training to become a flight surgeon. During this first year while stationed in Pensacola, Florida, Onna Rae was born. Glen left the Navy in 1969 with the rank of Lieutenant Commander. He loved being on the aircraft carriers, his time in the Navy, and the time serving his country.
Starting in 1969, Glen spent three years practicing medicine in Osceola, Missouri, and then moved to Appleton City to join Dr. Robert Brownsberger in 1972. He remained in his hometown serving the community and the people he had grown up with until his retirement. Along with others in the community, Glen was instrumental in getting a new hospital, a new nursing home, and an ambulance service for the area.
In 2002, Glen lost his wife Sharon to cancer after 45 years of marriage. Glen was lost without Sharon. Eventually he met Donna Hughes, and they spent the next 15 years traveling and enjoying life. In 2017, Glen had a stroke and spent many months in rehab relearning to walk, talk, swallow, etc. He eventually was able to return to a more normal life with the help of Donna and his family. Glen and Donna were able to still spend time in Arizona with the friends they had made there. Donna continued to help care for Glen until his death. We will always be grateful for the care Donna gave Glen and also for Melissa and Megan for opening their home to him.
Glen loved adventure when he could fit it in and took a trip to Alaska to fish for salmon. Another time, he spent a week floating the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon with his good friend and old classmate, Dr. Ira Hubbell. He loved his time on his farms with his cattle or on his bulldozer. He enjoyed when his kids and grandkids came to visit especially during the holidays. Sharon and Glen loved to go to football games at MIZZOU and spend those weekends with their good friends Dr. Gene Ridenhour and his wife Ruth. Ruth loved to have parties following the games where many of the people from Columbia they knew from their time there would also join. Glen's love for "all things Mizzou" was passed down to his family-he loved taking his kids and grandkids to games. Columbia brought back memories of good times there, and he spent a few hours as the younger person he once was at that time. Maybe his favorite thing of all was happy hour on his deck. He loved sitting out in the fresh air and sharing time with his family and friends. Sometimes, in his later years, it was the only thing that got him out of bed after an afternoon nap was the promise of a scotch and water on the deck.
His military background and his own upbringing made him a very strict father, but his kids agree the knowledge and lessons learned from him made it worth it. We are proud to call him father.
Glen was preceded in death by his wife Sharon, his parents and his 6 brothers and two sisters. He is survived by his children Marc (Debi), Stephanie (Danny), and Onna (Scott); six grandchildren (Kirby, Erik, Alex, Paige, Ashton, Tregg); eight great grandchildren (Jacquelyn, Lexie, Kylie, Hunter, Evan, Caleb, Declan, Elsie); and two great, great grandchildren (Graham, Iverson). He is also survived by Donna Hughes and her family who always called him "doc". Macy and Madison loved him as their own grandfather. This is evidence of a life well lived.
The family suggests memorial donations be made to the APPLETON CITY CEMETERY ASSOCIATION.