News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
“Say ‘I love you’ often, because you never know when the dance will end.”
With those words, Ashley Reed concluded a celebration honoring the lives of her parents, Bill and Jan Reed, who were killed in a July 1 plane crash in the San Juan Islands.
The Sisters High School football stadium was filled to overflowing on Saturday with friends, family and community members come to pay tribute to the lives of a couple that did much to shape the Sisters community.
Former schools superintendent Steve Swisher remarked on the appropriateness of the location of the celebration of life, noting that Bill Reed “was truly an Outlaw at heart and enjoyed every second of volunteerism and time he put in here.”
Bill Reed served for 13 years on the school board and was an avid Outlaws football fan.
Swisher said that “this fall when the Outlaws are on the field, we’ll all see Bill pacing on the sidelines.”
Marty Treese, a longtime family friend and godfather of Ashley Reed, directed the ceremonies, introducing speakers and tying memories together with the thread of a “letter” to Bill and Jan describing the day and assuring them that their children, who survived the airplane crash, will carry on and prosper with the love and support of friends, family and community.
Judy Brannon shared memories of Jan Reed on behalf of a group of women who shared years of cross country ski trips to Elk Lake, moments of parenthood and vibrant friendship with a woman who brought light into their lives.
Through Brannon, Kathie Helser urged that that light be preserved even in grief: “I believe we should think of them with light in our hearts, not grief.”
Bonnie Malone spoke with passion of lives lived with enthusiasm and a sense of adventure. She recalled that Jan chose to be a wife and mother with wholehearted enthusiasm.
“That’s what she chose to be proudly, brilliantly and joyfully.”
Bill’s old friend Paul VonBurgen, too, described an adventurous, enthusiastic spirit:
“He lived life as an adventure and shared that spirit with those around him.”
The impact of Jan Reed’s volunteer service in the SMART reading program was made evident in the reading of the poem “The Old Cowboy” by SMART reader Trevor Martell.
SMART readers released butterflies in a symbolic closing of the celebration and the crowd dispersed to the tones of acoustic music from a group of Sisters musicians.
Friends and family then gathered at the Reeds’ Cold Springs Ranch to remember the couple who touched so many lives in Sisters.
Jim Cornelius is editor in chief of The Nugget and author of “Warriors of the Wildlands: True Tales of the Frontier Partisans.” A history buff, he explores frontier history across three centuries and several continents on his podcast, The Frontier Partisans. For more information visit www.frontierpartisans.com.
Reader Comments(0)