Imogene "Jean" Beth Reed

The first-born baby of 1928 in Clinton County, Indiana, Jean was the eighth of eleven children born to David Stanley and Mary Arminta Rhine. She was raised in a hardworking, but caring farm family. A love of family, friends, church, travel, hockey, football (especially those tight ends!), books and, of course, catfish would stay with her for life.

Jean married USAF Lt. Jason Reed in 1948 and shortly thereafter transferred to Wiesbaden, Germany with him. That opened her world to the many sights of post-war Europe. She loved being an officer’s wife and all the friends and entertaining that came with that. She returned to Indiana with Jason in 1952 and was kept busy with one, then two sons as well as several moves via the Air Force. In 1958, Jason’s new job with the Denver Post brought them to Colorado Springs where Jean was the Executive Secretary to Bob Broughton, the Colorado College Business Manager, for several years. She and her dear friend Vi Rinehart became avid CC Hockey Tiger fans along the way and seldom missed a game. Later, Jean and her granddaughters Mary and Westley would attend those games, always making sure to get there early to watch the team’s warm-ups. (She thought the players were pretty cute doing that.) After a short stint in Casper, Wyoming (also courtesy of Jason’s job), the family moved to Longmont, Colorado where Jean was the Executive Secretary to Ralph Josephson, City Attorney, for several years. As a very busy lady in her fifties, Jean was very proud to have earned her Associates Degree in Business Administration. In fact, at any age, Jean was often lauded by family and friends as the busiest person they knew, but she always found ways to pencil her loved ones into her busy schedule.

After the death of her husband in 1981 and retiring from the City of Longmont a short time later, Jean embarked on world travel with friends and family. Some of her most memorable travel escapades included her sister Ruth, Ruth’s son Quentin and his wife Ardith. She loved touring New Zealand, Hawai’i, Alaska, the Grand Canyon, London, Germany and the Caribbean. Every stop was filled with stories, fun, pranks and mischief.

In addition to travel, Jean’s hobbies included photography, reading, spending precious time with family and friends and faithfully volunteering for her home churches. She was a member of the United Methodist Women (UMW) at First United Methodist Church and loved her time with her many friends there. She was also a very active member of her professional secretaries’ association (International Association of Administrative Professionals), serving as chapter and regional president. From 2007 to 2009, she also volunteered with the Colorado Festival of World Theatre and loved working with the incredible staff, stars and friends of the Festival.

Jean’s greatest joys were her children, grandchildren and great granddaughter. She was immensely proud of her sons, their accomplishments and the men, fathers and grandfather they became. She was the best grandma ever and was so excited to learn another great grandbaby is on the way this summer.

Jean is survived by her youngest sister Betty (Ray), sister-in-law Dorothy (Roscoe), her sons Jay (Elizabeth) and Ben (Patty), Patty’s twin sister Pam, her grandchildren Audrey, Westley (Ryan), Mary and Hamilton and great granddaughter Everleigh. As one of 11 children, she is also survived by many cherished nieces, nephews, cousins and their families. Visits from her niece Kay Coffin and Kay’s daughters Janis and Jody, sister Betty Smith and Betty’s daughter LaJenda Barker, and cousins Kyle Von Fange, his wife Kim and son Lincoln brightened her last days tremendously. Watching Audrey Hepburn movies and “Big Bang Theory” with her granddaughter Mary was one of her most cherished and precious memory-making activities. They truly were kindred spirits.

Special thanks to Jean’s wonderful family caregivers, dear friends, Rocky Mountain PACE and Pikes Peak Palliative and Hospice Care for their help and compassion, allowing her to stay in her home. Jean touched so many lives in so many wonderful ways. She is and always will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her.