Gertie Mae Reed

Gertie “Mae” Reed, 99, our precious mother entered Heaven on Oct. 31, 2015. She was born on May 23, 1916 in Deweyville, TX to W.F. and Gladys Standley. She had one sister and six brothers. She is preceded in death by her husband, Irvin, in 1977; sister, Vivian East; and four brothers: Howard, Lloyd, John, and Paul. She met her future husband in church and married Irvin M. Reed on August 10, 1935. Mae was a homemaker, seamstress, school teacher, and bible teacher. She and Irvin had two daughters, Carolyn Ann and Sandra Gayle. After being married 16 years, Irvin left the Texaco Oil Refinery in Port Arthur, Texas and moved his family to Phoenix, Arizona to attend Grand Canyon College to become a minister. Mae supported her husband’s call to the ministry and served God alongside her husband as he pastored at Elsinore Baptist Church, West Glendale Baptist Church, Scottsdale Road Baptist, as well as having served as a missionary in Nogales. She taught Kindergarten at the North Phoenix Baptist Church and Grace Brethern Church. Mae is survived by: her daughters, Carolyn Arredondo and Sandi (Ron) Phifer; brothers, Bill and Donald Standley; grandchildren, Kim Phifer, Bobby Smithers, David Smithers, and Ronnie Phifer; five great grandchildren; and one great, great grandchild. A Celebration of Mae’s Life will be held on Sunday, November 15, 2015 at 2 pm at Cross PoinTempe Church, 1001 E.Southern Ave., Tempe, AZ 85282. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to Cross PoinTempe Church.