Alice Trula Reed

Trula Reed passed away peacefully on December 15th at Cypress Gardens in Riverside, California after a long decline due to Alzheimer’s disease. She is survived by a brother, Tony Shepherd, children Bernadette Cardey, Rodney Smith, Bruce Smith, grandchildren Steven Smith, Milla Giquere Smith, Ronnie Smith, Eric Landry, David Landry, Jeff Smith, Nick Smith, Matt Smith, Crystal Smith and 11 great grandchildren.

Trula was born in an impoverished area of Southern Kentucky known then as Hilltop, now known as Smithtown, within the borders of Daniel Boone National Forest. Her father, Lee Shepherd, was a coal miner, as most men in the area were at the time. Her mother, Nancy Ray Shepherd, raised Trula and her four siblings, Raymond, Robert, Tony, and Norma Jean.

Trula managed to have a bright outlook on people and life despite a poor and hard working life. As a child of five years, she was taught to stand on a wooden crate in the kitchen and make biscuts. At 7 or 8, she was able to use the family .22 caliber rifle to shoot a chicken for Sunday dinner. She had many encounters with the various poisonous snakes of the area, including a copperhead wound in a rusty chain by the well at their house. Despite the harsh conditions, she loved to laugh, play games and visit with her friends and relatives.

As a teenager, Trula met the love of her life, Coleman Porter Smith. They married as Coleman joined the Army to serve in World War II. After the war, they moved to Kansas City, Missouri then on to Northern California where they eventually settled and raised their family. Coleman passed away in 1966, and a grieving Trula finished raising the two sons still at home. Later in life, she re-married a wonderful man, Colonel James Reed, USAF, retired, and they had many good years together, traveling, visiting, dancing, and playing games.

Trula was always kind to those she loved and to complete strangers. She liked to laugh and play scrabble ad cards. She was a good scrabble player! She will be missed deeply.

In lieu of flowers the family has requested that donations be made on behalf of Mrs. Reed to the Alzheimer's Association at www.alz.org or at 1-800-272-3900.

Miss Me, But Let Me Go

When I come to the end of the road

And the sun has set for me

I want no rites in a gloom-filled room,

Why cry for a soul set free?

Miss me a little but not too long,

And not with your head bowed low,

Remember the love that we once shared.

Miss me . . . but let me go.

For this is a journey that we all must take,

And each must go alone.

It’s all a part of the master plan

A step on the road to home.

When you are lonely and sick of heart,

Go to the friends we know,

And bury your sorrow in doing good deeds,

Miss me . . . but let me go.