Evelyn "June" Reed

Evelyn June Reed aka Junie, Junebug, Mom, Momma, Grams, Gramma, MeMe, Gramma June of Orlando, Florida passed away on Tuesday, October 4, 2022 at the age of 89. She was born on December 8, 1932 in Pensacola, Florida.

Mom was born and raised a Catholic during the depression years. She had three older sisters and three younger brothers and at the age of 14 the family moved to Miami, Florida. During those difficult years every child was taught at an early age to care and provide for each other and that’s exactly what they did. Helping to support the family, she worked as a cashier at the Miami Greyhound Bus Terminal and then as a soda fountain of a local drug store in Miami.

In 1952 by chance, she met the love of her life when our father was invited to a friend’s house for a barbeque as was our mother and her friend Peggy. They ran out of hotdogs and Dad volunteered to make a run to the store to pick some up. Peggy says “Oh, I’ll go with you”. Our mom says “and I’ll be going with you too.” Both took off running to get to car as they both wanted to sit next to dad. Mom won the race and scooted up next to Dad and Peggy followed next to mom. When Dad started the car the radio was already on playing classical music. Peggy reaches over and pushes the button to change to another station. Mom immediately reached up and turned it back to the classical music. Dad looks at Mom and say’s “oh, you like classical music?” Well that was the trigger that convinced my father that this is the woman I want to marry because of her taste in music. Needless to say we are very grateful that Mom was quick on her feet and her love for that kind of music. They were married the following year, 10 Oct 1953.

Mom endured many extended absences of our father during the Cuban Missile Crisis and the Vietnam War. We were so blessed to have a strong mother who always had the care and well-being of her four boys as top priority. As a South Florida gal living in North Dakota it was quite a change weather wise for her. She didn’t like it but endured it, many times in her own way. A normal winter in ND would see -20 degrees F or colder. One day Mom decided that school would be canceled for the day. It was just too cold for her boys to be outside she said. Dad was from the Poconos in NE PA so when he came home from work they had a little talk. We didn’t get any additional cold days off, snow yes, cold no. Mom was always at Dad’s side as they traveled to many military installations across the country which included Charleston, SC, Homestead, FL, Minot, ND, Abilene, TX, Oscoda, MI, and San Antonio, TX. It was always an adventure.

Mom volunteered several years as a Cub Scout Den Mother. With four boys her and dad always made sure we were involved in activities that enhanced our personal values. Christmas was her favorite time of the year and she would normally have all decorations up long before Thanksgiving. Sometimes the decorations were still up in late February and some remained year round. Another hobby of mom’s was doing ceramics. She especially loved making Christmas themed figurines. Her nativity scenes are quite remarkable and are still displayed every year in our homes.

June was pre-deceased in death by her husband Dick, her son Jim, sisters Betty Howard and Madeline Haskins, brothers Tommy Murphy and Jimmy Murphy.

June is survived by her children, Bob Reed (Martha), Rick Reed (Donna), and Ron Reed (Danielle); sister Billie Murphy and brother John Murphy; grandchildren, Danielle Smith (Morgan), Ryan Reed (Ashley), Leslie Reed (Lindsey), Dr. Joseph Reed, Jimmy Reed, and Bobby Reed; great-grandchildren, Kate and Claire Smith and many other family and friends who cherish her memory.

Our mother’s sister, Billie Murphy, has been a pillar for the Murphy and Reed family her entire life. She was there to help each family member regardless of the need, always. She was at our mother’s side every moment of the day for the last 5 years. She cared, cleaned, cooked, fed, conversed, cried, laughed and did the impossible providing mom with the best quality of life possible. She is a blessing from God who provided strength to our entire family during these difficult times. She is like no other we have ever known. Thank you Aunt Billie. You will forever be in our hearts and we will never forget what you have done for us our entire lives. You are so dearly loved.

Our family is sincerely grateful the loving professional care we received from all of the care providers for the last seven months. The kindness/compassion shown by these remarkable individuals is seldom seen elsewhere. They are truly dedicated to the care of mankind. A very heartfelt thanks for Advent Health Hospice Blue Team, Griswold Home Care Team and our very special dear friend Jacinthe Charron-Gagnon who helped care for mom on a daily basis.

A funeral service will be held Friday, October 14, 2022 from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM at Good Shepherd Catholic Church located at 5900 Oleander Drive, Orlando, FL 32807. A committal service will occur on the same day at 12:30 PM at Chapel Hill Cemetery located at 2400 Harrell Road, Orlando, FL 32817. Following the burial there will be a reception from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM at Baldwin Fairchild at Chapel Hill, 2420 Harrell Road, Orlando, FL 32817.

In Lieu of Flowers, family requests donations to be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.