On January 17th 2014 Reed returned home to the Lord, at the age of 82. Born in Detroit Michigan January 8th 1932, Reed was given to us by the Lord through Rauleigh Reed Sr. and Lillian Ulva Farris.
Born and raised in Detroit, Reed started working at the early age of 9, to help support his family, by selling newspapers between cars on the street, and working on cars with his father. By age 12 he was working in a machine shop with his father cleaning brass products. At age 15 he started speaking at the young person’s services at church, the local jails, and at street meetings in Detroit.
He attended a technical high school for mechanics and Bethesda bible church where he became an ordained minister; it’s also where he met his beloved and adoring wife Mary Lou Coole. They went on their first date in 1951 on a hay ride and were married 9 months later July 26th 1952.
They traveled together serving the Lord, in that time having only living off of their faith in the Lord. They began their family in Detroit with their first son Timothy, and their daughter Marie. They made their way through Texas, then Arkansas, picking up small jobs and preaching everywhere they went, they finally ended up in Pasadena California in 1958. There Reed continued to minister, and where he started his long and great career, first in the Formica counter top business, then expanded into custom cabinets, and contracting. This is also where they had their second son Matthew Reed.
Reed loved his wife and children dearly. He was a little league manager for 5 years, for both Tim and Matt, and President of the league for 2 years, he was also a Captain with the California Rangers where he and Marie were members. He attended every Baseball, football, band recital, concert, and parade competition his children were in.
At the young age of 50, he moved to the Santa Ynez Valley, where he opened a cabinet shop with his youngest son Matthew. He built almost all the cabinetry at the Sansum medical clinic in Santa Barbara, installed all the doors at the Rancho Marriott in Buellton, built several homes in Santa Ynez, and completely remodeled the Los Olivos Café. Farris Fabrications received the Santa Barbara House Beautiful award for a home he remodeled in Montecito.
Reed was the kindest man who cared deeply for his family, friends and the Lord. He always had smiles to share and memories to make. We will remember him always with love, he was our everything.
Reed is survived by his beloved wife of 61 years, Mary Lou, sister Wanda, his 3 children, Timothy (Hilary), Marie, and Matthew(Kimberly), 6 grandchildren, Mark and Jessica (Allen), Claire and Colin (Kaimana), Emily (Alexio) Garcia, Casandra, and 6 great children, Connor, Arwen, Desmond, Madeleine, Corban, and baby Hendrix Reed.
Reed is preceded in death by his 2 younger brothers, Gary and James, and many Nieces and Nephews.
A viewing of Reed will be held from 7pm- 9pm on Tuesday January 21st at Loper Funeral Chapel in Ballard. A graveside service will take place at 1:30pm on Wednesday January 22nd at Oak Hill Cemetery in Ballard. Loper Funeral Chapel, Directors.
