Mabel Reed

Mabel Irene Reed was born in Wilsonville, NE on October 8, 1934. She died January 5, 2014 in Fort Collins, CO at the age of 79. She was blessed to be surrounded by her family. She married Robert LeRoy Reed on November 9, 1958 in Boulder, CO. He preceded her in death July 17, 1988.

Mabel was a true believer in family and along with Bob raised her four daughters to know the love and understanding of the Lord. She is survived by her daughters Trudi Goldsberry (Jeff) of Elizabeth, CO, Brenda Fischer (Paul) of Boulder, CO, Amy Sharkey (Ken) of LaPorte, CO, and Jolene Reed of Fort Collins, CO. Also grandchildren Reed Fischer (Jamie), Brittany Fischer, Brad Goldsberry, Danae Goldsberry and great-granddaughter Wren Fischer and her brother Jay Treat of Erie, CO.

Mabel was a longtime resident of Boulder, moving there in the 50’s and was involved in many organizations. She was heavily involved in her church work, card clubs, arts and crafts and loved to travel. She moved to Fort Collins in 2003. Services for Mabel Irene Reed will be held on Monday, January 13th, 2014 at 1:00pm (viewing 12:00pm) at Calvary Bible Church, 3245 Kalmia, Boulder, CO. Interment to follow at Green Mountain Cemetery. Please sign the online guest book at www.cristmortuary.com. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Lung Association.

Below is the life story of Mabel Irene Reed:

On a brisk October 8th day in 1934 Mabel Irene Treat was born to Gertrude and Clarence Treat in Wilsonville, Nebraska. Growing up a farm girl was one of hard work and interesting experiences. First of all waking up daily with her dad pulling the covers out from the foot of the bed to pull her toes was quite the aggravation. Life on the farm was hard work and clean fun. Being raised with parents that lived through the depression, they were careful and resourceful. Girls did women’s work, and boys did men’s work. This caused a problem with mom as she was a bit tomboyish. She wanted to be with the men out on her horse, Tony, but instead she was inside cooking, cleaning, plucking chickens and oh... the dreaded egg collecting and cow milking. Mom was taught by the best for her cooking skills; she was quite the baker and could can almost anything.

Mom graduated from high school in 1952 and headed off to college for a teaching degree in Kearney, Nebraska. While at college she made really good friends, ones she kept in contact with to this day. After her two years of college, she received her teaching job in Cozad, Nebraska, and Grant, Nebraska. While she was teaching, Grandpa retired from farming and moved to Boulder, CO. Mom would “come home” on long weekends or holidays. The woman who lived on the corner by Grandpa and Grandma Treat had a ladies gathering at her home and invited neighbors. Grandma Treat and Grandma Reed were both invited and discovered that each had a child they wanted each other to meet. A year later, on November 9, 1958, wedding bells were ringing.

In the years between 1960 and 1968, Mom and Dad added to their family four times, each time a girl. After the fourth girl mom said out loud to the nurses, “Oh, poor Bob, no boys.” Later in life Dad told Mom he was so glad he had all girls, because he felt that we all listened to him better than boys would have.

Mom so enjoyed spending her time as a stay-at-home mom and housewife. She always came up with creative ideas to fill summer months and was organized to balance school months so everyone was where they needed to be. One very fond memory of the summer months was every afternoon, when we would come in for a quiet time. All five of us would sit around the living room. She had this Bible story book she would read out of, and we would sit there and listen to the stories. Some of us would listen fully, and others would drift off to sleep. As a busy mom of four I always wondered if that was her true intent—“Yay! They are napping!”

As the years led into each other, our parents announced that my dad had taken a new job and we would be moving to Wray CO, only for a couple of years. Our years in Wray, a farm community, with dear friends bring such fond memories. For those of you who knew the size of Moms’ garden in Boulder, Wray’s was four times that size. We canned and froze everything imaginable. Sometimes the job was so big all the grandparents from Boulder came to help. Trudi graduated from high school in 1978, we moved back to Boulder, and one by one the rest of us graduated from high school and went off to college.

Mom had worked part-time for the school district before we moved to Wray. When we came back to Boulder, we moved into the same house we left, and she worked again for the school district. She so enjoyed those ladies in the lunchroom! On our return to Boulder we started going to Calvary Bible Evangelical Free Church. Mom and Dad were very involved in church work, committees, and Bible Studies. Our parents' faith in the Lord had been growing stronger the last few years, which was pulling us all in a strong direction.

Brenda announced her engagement in 1985, and Mom was thrilled with the planning of the first wedding. What fun we had making the flower arrangements and other projects! Two years later Mom again found herself involved in Trudi’s wedding and, a few years later, Amy’s wedding. Oh, what fun she had helping plan the details.

In 1988 our world was forever changed by the sudden death of our dad. This was just too soon and too young. What were we going to do? Mom knew she had to keep going and be as strong as she could for her girls; on the whole we all stuck together.

Then more joy came in 1990 when Reed was born, followed in 1992 by Brittany and Brad, and then Danae bringing up the rear in 1994. In the late 90’s Mom and Jolene started traveling quite a bit. Cruses were the choice of travel. They could go and see and learn without having to deal with all the luggage relocation. They went to Hawaii, several Caribbean islands, Alaska, Panama Canal, and Costa Rica. Way to go, Mom; you saw a lot! Earlier in time Mom had traveled to Hong Kong, Europe, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand. So glad you got to see the world!

Tired of the care and costs associated with living in Boulder, Mom decided to move out of Boulder. She researched different areas where she could live in a patio home and still have her rose garden. She found what she was looking for in Fort Collins. How convenient! Amy and Jolene were already living there. The move happened in 2003. Mom finally got her brand-new home. She oversaw the building from the beginning to the very end, now having her little home on Maid Marian Court. By the way, she kept watching and waiting for Robin Hood, but never got to see him! Traveling had stopped, and slowing down happened a lot due to her arthritis and use of oxygen. The pain in her back had worsened, and her lungs had weakened.

In her last few years in Fort Collins, she saw her grandchildren graduate from high school and go to or graduate from college, as well as one grandson married and with a child. Yep, Mom, your new official title: Great Grandma!

The final chapter of this story is Christmas 2013. Having spent Christmas at Brenda’s house, Mom and Jolene experienced a fun, relaxing, and in Mom's words “the best Christmas in a long time.”

Christmas this year was a masterpiece painting. The canvas was family coming together; the paint brushes were the two churches we attended Christmas Eve. The light that shined on the canvas so we could see was the private Communion we took before bed Christmas Eve. The colors on the white canvas are the laughs, the jokes, the wrapping paper wars, and the hugs and thank yous for a good day and, of course, the great-granddaughter in Great-Grandma’s arms, feeling the love, protection, and pride that family “grows on!”

Mom, the color on your canvas is your legacy. We will remember the love, the hugs, the teachings that you taught each of us separately, and the promise of where you are. Remember us, and we will see you again.

Arrangements under the direction of Crist Mortuary, Boulder, CO.