Jacob "Jake" Reed

Jacob “ Jake” Reed, 82, born on August 6, 1933 in Earle Arkansas. Jacob was a man full of life, and when life was no longer viable, God called him home where he is now at peace on Saturday, June 4, 2016 after a brief illness.

Jake confessed faith in the Lord at an early age at Lind Cross Baptist Church under the Pastor Reverend Willie Smith in Earle, Arkansas. Jake moved to St. Louis, Missouri in 1950 at the age of 17 years old, where he resided until his death.

Jacob was the heavyweight Champion of his family; some of the family even called him the “Godfather” because he was a father figure, not just to his own children, but to many of his nieces, nephews and others.

Some of the things Jake enjoyed doing were: attending water aerobics in the morning at the YMCA, going dancing, attending picnics and listening to the bands, vacationing in Branson and family gatherings. He was a member of St. Teresa’s Catholic Church.

Jacob has told us numerous times that as the oldest sibling he had to quit school as a young boy to work to support his brothers and sisters. He overcame lots of hardships and obstacles to eventually be able to run a successful business along with his wife, (Reed’s Lawn Service). He worked until the day he got sick.

Jacob was preceded in death by his parents, Andrew and Ella Reed and siblings, Gloria, RL, Ivory, Sam, LeRoy, Margie, Irene, Susie, Andrew and Tom.

Jacob leaves behind his loving and devoted wife, Mary Jane Reed; children, Ruby Walls, Carolyn (Marty) Reason, Janice (Brian) Jackson, Pam Miller, Taquincey Goodlow, Antoine Miller, Vernetta Williams, Linda (Butch) Hutchings, Barbara (Mike) Brueggeman and Ann (Tim) Smythe; 19 grandchildren, Nicole, LaTori, Lawrence, Jr., Chuck, Morgan, Justin, Jordan, Brooke, Taylor, Whitney, Joseph, Bernetta, Gary Jr., Regina, Kyle, Cody, Tom, Stephanie and Lindsey; 5 great grandchildren, a sister, Mrs. Elnora (John) Alexander of Earle, Arkansas; sisters in laws, Mrs. Tinnie Reed of Chicago, Illinois and Rosemary Behrmann; brother in law, Eugene (Edna) Dintelman; Also survived by a host of nieces, nephews and friends.

Memorials in Jacob’s memory may be made to Solomon’s Temple, 6569 Page Blvd, St. Louis, MO, 63112. Online condolences may be expressed to the family at www.valhallagardensandfuneralhome.com

Visitation: Friends may call from 4 to 8 pm on Friday, June 10, 2016 at Valhalla Gaerdner Holten Funeral Home, Belleville, Illinois.

Funeral Service: Funeral Services will be held at 10am on Saturday, June 11, 2016 at the funeral home, with Bishop James Holloway, Sr., officiating.

Interment will follow in Valhalla Gardens of Memory, Belleville, Illinois

Valhalla Gaerdner Holten Funeral Home, Belleville, Illinois