Kent Fischer Reed died at home in Ventura, California fully in view of where he was born in old Foster Hospital, now Community Memorial Medical Center. He died of lung cancer on July 25, 2016. He was born on November 24, 1943 and the family soon moved to the first house to be built in Ventura after World War II where “Kent 1948” remains etched in concrete on a garden wall. His father’s family had come to Santa Paula in 1900 for farming from Polk County, in the southeastern Ozarks of Missouri, as had many others. Later his father’s brother’s large family came to the Avenue of Ventura. In 1928 in Santa Paula, his father’s childhood home and barn on First and Harvard were destroyed in the flood path of the St. Francis Dam, the deadliest man-made disaster of twentieth century America. His father became the Chief Surveyor of Ventura County and is mother retired from teaching in the El Rio School District. He was a fourth generation Californian descended from four families who mined during the time of the “gold rush.” Kent also was descended from a patriot of the American Revolutionary War on both sides of the family.
Kent graduated from eighth grade from the Academy of St. Catherine’s in Ventura and from Ventura High School in 1963 and attended Ventura College. He was actively involved as a Boy Scout and later as a Scout Master. He worked seasonally on brush crews for Ventura County. Rescue animals were always a part of the family and he is survived by our furry family member, Georgie, a red retriever mix.
In 1965 he enlisted in the US Army becoming a sergeant. In 1966/1967, he served in Korea for thirteen months of which the last four months he spent in the Demilitarized Zone as a part of the Army Signal Corps. After serving three years in the Army, Kent returned to the family home working for the Coca-Cola Bottling Co. and the local Hong Kong restaurant. In the 1960’s, fellow Ventura County resident, Johnny Cash, was helped to walk unbothered into a sneak preview of the star’s latest film. After that Johnny Cash would recognize Kent when their paths crossed.
Kent spent twenty years devotedly caring for his mother disabled by dementia. His true love was pursuing outdoor life of camping and fishing as he had done with his father. He loved to hand roll fly fishing rods for his friends. His favorite times were fishing at Lake Casitas with his buddies including Art Alonzo. Kent was a true friend to many. His hobby was hand rolling fishing rods giving them to his friends. He was a good neighbor. He offered a pleasant disposition, humor, honesty and generosity.
He is pre-deceased by his parents, Elbie “Buck” Reed and Miriam Nadine Fischer Reed; younger brother, Barry Charles Reed; and cousins, B. Gordon Reed, Jeanne Reed, and Judy Reed Hair. Kent is survived by his sister, Carol Reed Glow of Ventura; niece, Vanessa Reed Storie of Oceanside, California; cousins, Terri Tullberg and Marshall Thompson of Camarillo, California; Sharon (Mark) Wood of Manhattan Beach, California; Terry (Sheryl) McDermott of Santa Marguerita, California; Jay (Carolyn) Fischer of Carmichael, California; Gary Fischer of Honolulu, Hawaii; Linda (Michael) Turco of Hilo, Hawaii; Greg (Mary) Reed, Bruce (Melody) Reed, Eric (Jennifer) Reed of Oxnard, Jeffrey (Heather) Reed of Ventura, and Trisha (John) Williamson of Ventura, California; Marvin (Judy), Millard, Wayne (Erlene) and Paul Harold (Ruth Gayle) Reed of Reno, Nevada and Homer (Natalie) Reed of Highland, Utah.
Internment will be at the Santa Paula Cemetery.
The family wishes to thank Livingston Memorial Visiting Nurse Association Hospice and Angel of Grace Home Health for their devoted care of Kent.
Arrangements under the direction of Ted Mayr Funeral Home, Ventura, CA.
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