Obituary of Frances J. Reed

Frances Scott Joyner Reed, age 85, of Boone, NC, died surrounded by her family at home at 10:03 a.m. EDT, Monday, June, 8 2009. Born in Elizabeth City, North Carolina, September 11, 1923, she was valedictorian of the Rock Ridge High School Class of 1939, Rock Ridge, NC. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Home Economics (Foods and Nutrition) from the Woman's College of the University of North Carolina (now UNC-Greensboro) in 1943 and her Master of Arts degree in Counseling from Appalachian State University in 1985. She was awarded a Danforth Fellowship in 1942 and was recognized with a civic award for her volunteer work at New River Mental Health. She was employed at the U.S. Dept of Agriculture in wartime Washington, D.C., and later managed the kitchen at the Statler Hotel (now the Capitol Hilton). She worked in hospital laboratories in Chapel Hill and in Burlington, and for Appalachian State University's Health Services as a medical and x-ray technician. After her retirement from ASU, she found her calling as a therapist and ended her working career as such at New River Mental Health, where she volunteered her time and talents for several years. Frances: Mother, grandmother, wife, daughter, sister, aunt, friend -- and a "tough old bird." Fun-loving, a great dancer (jitterbug and Charleston). A class act, a cut-up, party-thrower, gracious hostess. Singer of choral, barbershop, and shape note music. Lover of beauty and laughter, limericks, old movies, Mozart, good conversation, and handsome men. Jokester and storyteller. Nutritionist and nurturer, a great cook. Lover of sunrises, mountains and sea, animals, and walks up Lonesome Road. An ace seamstress, quilter, knitter. Elegant, generous, loyal, friend to many, volunteer. An FDR Democrat, mostly tolerant of others. Big-hearted, broken-hearted. Determined, tenacious, bearer of great grief, forgiving. Meticulously organized. Liberal Methodist, student of Jesus and world religions. Broad-minded, compassionate, curious, ahead of her time. Feminist, coop member, champion of underdogs. Listener, confidant, and counselor. Intelligent, thoughtful, wonder-filled. Courageous, faithful, caring, daring. A great hug-giver. Lover of life. Broken by it. A fighter to the bittersweet end. Frances is survived by her daughter Josephine Wiley Reed, son-in-law Tomas Hudlicky, and grandson Jason Reed Hudlicky of St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada; daughter Susan Frances Reed, son-in-law Frankie M. Kelly, and grandchildren Liam Ois�n Reed-Kelly and Rhiannon Mae Reed-Kelly of Boone, NC; son Laurie Tully Reed III, daughter-in-law Carolyn M. Dundon, and step-grandsons, Jesse Smith and Donny Philips of Bristol, Vermont; her sister Sara Scott Joyner Lockhart of Lansdale, PA; and nieces and nephews far and wide. She is predeceased by her parents, Chloe Mae Scott (d. 1929) and Elisha Wiley Robert Joyner (d. 1961), her stepmother Josephine Matilda Reed Joyner (d. 1970); her beloved husband Laurie Tully Reed Jr. (d. 1991) and daughter Katherine Thompson Reed (d. 1991); and her sister Miriam Scott Joyner McRae (d. 1979). A wake was held in the home on Monday evening June 8, followed by a memorial celebration Thursday, June 11 in the small chapel at St Luke's Episcopal Church, Boone, NC. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to Hospice of Watauga County, 136 Furman Rd, Suite 4, Boone, NC 28607-5038, and/or the Watauga County Humane Society capital campaign, P.O. Box 1835, Boone, NC 28607. The family wishes to extend special thanks to Dr. Robert F. Griffith; Stephanie, Colleen, Sarah, Virginia, Janet, and Christy at Hospice of Watauga County; Dee Dundon, her neighbor and friend of 43 years; and Zan Valliant. Online condolences may be sent to the reed family at austinandbarnesfuneralhome.com. Austin & Barnes Funeral Home & Crematory is serving the Reed family.