Kirt Edwin Reed

Kirt Edwin Reed passed away on February 13, 2026, at Seton NW Hospital in Austin, Texas following a series of strokes. His wife, Susan, daughter Kim, and grandsons Wesley and Braden were with him during his hospital stay and on his last day.

Kirt was born May 21, 1943, in Austin when his family lived on Garden Street in East Austin. He was the youngest of 13 children. There were nine people in the small two bedroom house on a dirt street in the 10th Ward neighborhood. Kirt started school at age 6 in Palm School. Kirt’s father was a carpenter and acquired five acres of land on Pecan Springs Road. He built a large three bedroom home. Not long after moving in, he sold the house, built another house, the family moved there, and repeated this process several times over the years. During this time, Kirt attended five different elementary schools.

In January 1955 Kirt was hired as a Page in the Texas State House of Representatives and worked there until the end of the session. He then returned to school at Baker and University Junior High schools. In 1957 he worked as a Page in the State House where he was for four years. He bought his first car at age 14 and his mother allowed him to get a driver's license. He attended Austin High School and had a large newspaper route which he started by 4:30am and finished by 6:00am and then went to class. In 1959 he transferred to Leander High School and continued his paper route.

In 1960, Kirt got his GED diploma and joined the Navy with his mother's permission. While in boot camp in San Diego, California, a congenital condition in his foot caused extreme pain and swelling, so doctors determined he could not finish boot camp and gave him an Honorable Discharge. He then took a job at the Austin State Hospital working on one of the men's wards.

Through mutual friends in 1962, Kirt met Susan and they married in 1963. He took a job at a large retail store as the door guard and their daughter Kim was born in 1964. During this time, he was appointed as a Constable in Travis County and in 1966 he was hired as a police officer by the City of Wharton and the family moved there. In 1968, he was hired as a police officer by the City of Snyder and they moved to west Texas. After a few years of being away from their families, they moved back to Austin. Shortly thereafter, he learned about job opportunities with Southwestern Bell Telephone Company and took a job there. This began his 40 year career in telecommunications and computerization of the industry in a good job which he completely enjoyed. When the Bell Companies disbanded, Kirt took a buy out and retired.

Being back in Central Texas by 1968 and having both their families nearby was very enjoyable and moving to the country was something he wanted to do. Kirt and Susan spent years living near Leander and during this time he got his pilot’s license and a Cessna airplane. Susan’s father, a former WWII aircraft mechanic, was particularly pleased that Kirt had his license and plane and loved to fly with him.

Kirt joined the Masonic Lodge and was Worshipful Master of Austin Lodge #12. During a lodge meeting a man had a heart attack, Kirt used his CPR training and the man survived. The Austin EMS Department presented him with a life saving award.

Later came the move to Lexington to acquire more acreage. Kirt built a large home as well as the barn and workshop with the help of Susan’s father as well as fencing 44 acres. The huge back porch overlooking the pasture, creek, stock tank and huge trees was very restful. Watching the boys grow up, and their daughter advance in her career to earn advanced degrees from St. Edwards University, becoming the intelligent, thoughtful, accomplished woman she is while raising two smart, kind young men has been very gratifying and brought joy to his heart.

After many years in the country, and the hard work needed to manage cattle, horses and goats, it became necessary for Kirt and Susan to move ‘back to town’. They moved to a great neighborhood and have fantastic, fun, caring neighbors to enrich life, with time to relax, travel, enjoy their home in northwest Austin, and spend time with Kim and the boys. Kirt took up woodturning and had a chance to give instruction to his grandsons, Wesley and Braden, who are multi-talented like Pepaw.

Kirt was proud of the active life he had, the career he enjoyed, the opportunity to travel, spend time with his daughter and grandsons, and his precious little five month old GREAT grandson, James Arthur Stewart.

A memorial service will be held at Weed Corley Fish Funeral Home, located at 5416 Parkcrest Drive, Austin, Texas, on February 27, 2026, starting at 2:00 pm.