Willita "Lita" Reed

Willita (Lita) Marie Reed passed away Monday, February 1, 2016 in Fort Smith. She was born July 9, 1925 to the late William Joseph Driscoll and Edith Brewer Driscoll in Ozark, Arkansas. Lita married her soul mate, Clarence Reed, whom she lovingly called CR. It was literally love at first sight for Clarence. They married at the tender young age of sixteen and built a life and family together. Lita loved her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, her family and home.

Lita was eleven when her mother passed away and being the oldest girl of many siblings, she never graduated from the seventh grade. However she had a thirst for knowledge and made it a point to read and study. She had a natural ability for interior decorating and an entrepreneurial spirt. She enjoyed keeping up with the real estate markets. With a lot of hard work by both Lita and CR and Lita's interior decorating sense, they would sell properties at a profit and in later life were able to pay cash for many of their homes.

Although Lita enjoyed real estate and discussing politics, her real passion was spreading the gospel, and she did to all that would listen. If you dropped in to visit Lita and CR any evening, instead of finding them watching a movie, you would find them reading and studying the Bible. She was a prayer warrior with unshakable strong belief.

The last ten years of Lita's life entered a different chapter with the beginning of Alzheimers. As this disease slowly took over her body, she was unable to do the simplest task herself. Lita still spread her loving spirit with any and all that would take the time to interact with a large gentle smile.

Lita was preceded in death by her husband, Clarence Reed of sixty-seven years; four sisters, Joyce Andrews, Joann Bibb, Sheila Riddle, and Mary Lou Sells; three brothers, Francis Driscoll, Bud Driscoll and JV Driscoll.

She is survived three loving children, son and his wife, James & June Reed of Olive, Oklahoma; daughters, Vicki Zettlemoyer of Casper, Wyoming and Kim Marvel of Fort Smith, AR; nine grandchildren, James CE Reed, Tami Reed, Shonn Reed, Shannon Altom, Tony Zettlemoyer, Todd Zettlemoyer, Trisha Miller, Brian Marvel and Joe Marvel and six great grandchildren, Joseph and Jessica Reed, Troy and Carson Altom and Karlita and Michaela Miller; brother, Billy Driscoll, sister, Aline Metcalf and stepbrother, Charles Goins.

Funeral service will be at 2:30pm Thursday, February 4th at the Edwards Funeral Home in Fort Smith. Grandsons will serve as pallbearers.

Memorial contributions may be made to the River Valley Alzheimer’s Association, 2408 South 51st Court, Suite F, Fort Smith, AR 72903, in Lita's name.

To sign an online guestbook, visit www.edwardsfuneralhome.com.