Thelma Iona Reed

Thelma Iona Lewis Reed was a loving wife, mother and grandmother. She was born on January 11, 1923 to William Wesley Lewis and Irene Mary Moore Lewis in Hays, Kansas. She was raised in Sunshine, Colorado along with her 8 brothers and sisters. Thelma married Ansil Adair Reed on February 12, 1939 in Denver, Colorado and spent a wonderful 54 years together. Thelma and Ansil raised their three children, Dorothy, Bobby and Patty, in the Denver area. Ansil was a truck driver for Yellow Freight and in 1965 they were transferred to Liberal, Kansas where they lived for 13 years and made many lasting friendships. They purchased a motor home and traveled around the country sightseeing and to her women’s bowling league tournaments. Thelma made wonderful ceramic figurines, many of which her family has and will always treasure. She also enjoyed talking on their Citizen’s Band Radio, her call sign was “White Tornado”.

When they retired in 1978 they moved back to Denver to be with their family. Thelma was an active member of her church and started volunteering for the Adams County Democrats. She was instrumental in helping establish the Adams County Breadline, which she worked weekly well into her early 90’s. She loved performing with her line dancing club, playing the organ, daily walks and going “up the hill” to gamble with her friends. Thelma was a fun loving, feisty, god loving woman who lived to the great age of 97.

Thelma was preceded in death by her parents, brothers and sisters, husband Ansil, son Robert Reed, and daughter Dorothy Eckley. Those left to cherish her memory are: daughter, Patty and son-in-law Gary Prentiss; her 8 grandchildren and their families: Kevin Eckley, Denise Eckley, Paula Spurlock, Duane Eckley, Karen Talmage, Tony Reed, Jannon Sedberry, and Kim Sems, 11 great-grandchildren, 4 great-great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews who will miss her dearly.