Willie Jo Reed

Willie Jo Shannon Reed, 94, passed away on Sunday, June 22, 2025 in Wichita, Kansas.
Services will be Friday, June 27, 2025, 10:00 a.m., at Pittsburg First Baptist Church, Pittsburg, Oklahoma. Burial will follow at Pine Top Cemetery, south of Pittsburg. Active pallbearers will be Bryan Shannon, TJ Shannon, David Hatt, John Patrick Shannon, Marty Shannon, and Jason Walston. Honorary pallbearers will be Gaile Shannon, Paul Shannon, Buddy Glenn Shannon, Bradley Shannon, Loo Loey McLennan, Glenn S. McLennan, Javier DeVivero, and Eddie DeVivero.
She was born on February 8, 1931 in Pounds Valley, Oklahoma to John Lafayette and Selma Lois (Byrd) Shannon. She married Jim Ira Reed on March 21, 1949 in McAlester.
Survivors include a daughter and son-in-law, Susan Lois (Reed) Walston and Elvin Patrick Walston of Haysville, KS; son and daughter-in-law, James Michael Reed and Theresa Anne Reed of Cheyenne, WY; grandchildren, Jason Patrick and Missy Walston of Haysville, KS, Susan Dusty (Walston) and Ryan Hatt of Lincoln, NE, Anne Nicole (Reed) and Coyde Fickel of Encampment, WY; great-grandchildren, David Ryan Hatt of Lincoln, NE, Devri Reed Hatt of Lincoln, NE, and Jessy Ann Walston of Haysville, KS; brothers and sisters-in-law, Gaile and Mary Shannon of Kiowa, OK, Paul and Linda Shannon of Pittsburg, OK, and Barbara Shannon of Pounds Valley, OK.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 53 years, Jim Ira Reed on January 17, 2002; her siblings, Louis Hudson Shannon, Roy Preston Shannon, Dale Lafayette Shannon, Nettie Ruth (Shannon) DeVivero, and Tommye Lovelle (Shannon) McLennan.
Willie Joe loved family – all of her family. She also loved visiting her grandchildren and her great grandchildren. Any time there was an opportunity to go visit or just travel she was ready. She always had a story or memory to share. She worked in school food service for over 30 years and enjoyed visiting with the students which is surprising to most people. But the love of her life was Dad, Jim Ira Reed. She followed him, took care of him, and loved him my whole life. If he wanted to try something she was all in. Square dancing, bowling, camping, horseback riding (trail rides) watching him in the Sedgwick County Mounted Sheriff's Posse, competing in Fun Shows. Then they moved back home, Oklahoma, and settled down. Just adding a garden, cows, and remember the horses. But the best part was going to church and visiting all of the childhood friends and being back close to family. We just needed to visit more often to keep up with them.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to: Pittsburg First Baptist Church - Pittsburg, OK 74560; McCormick School Museum - 855 S. Martinson, Wichita, KS 67213; Assistance League of Wichita - 2431 E. Douglas, Wichita, KS 67211; or the Shriners Children's Hospital - 1275 E. Fairfax Rd., Salt Lake City, UT 84103
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