Jefferson Reed

Luke 23:43   “Verily I say unto thee, today shalt thou be with Me in paradise.”

Thank you, Family, Relatives and Friends.

1941-2021

On a beautiful Sunday morning, the third day into the year, Jefferson Reed, at the age of 79 years old, entered eternal rest.  He was in Globe, AZ and will return to Cibecue, AZ to his Family Plot on Monday at 10:00 a.m., January 11, 2021.

Jeff was born to his parents Ernest and Ruth (Patterson) Reed in Whiteriver, AZ.  He was raised by his grandparents, Pedro and Kate (Lee) Patterson of Cibecue, AZ.  He was a man of little words and never said much, but always had a smile.

He attended Cibecue Day School.  He never said much about his life as a youngster but, we knew he must have had a happy childhood because he was raised in an area close to nature.

He shamed out some country music artists-at his own time.  He was a self-taught guitar and accordion player.  He had a beautiful voice that carried tunes he knew by heart.  Jeff was also one of the extras in a movie that many people of Cibecue participated in.

Above all his favorite things to do was a cowboy way of life.  As a young lad, he rode his horse from Cibecue to Young, AZ seeking employment as a ranch hand.  He also worked as a cowboy with various district areas in his hometown.  His favorite place was well spent at the X4 Ranch.

Although health issues and age slowed him down, he remained a cowboy at heart.  Jeff also experienced work with the BIA Forestry as a firefighter during the fire season; he also worked for a mining company, Fort Apache Timber Company and Whiteriver Unified School District.

He married Veronica (Cooley) Reed and they had three sons-Michael Reed, Daryl Reed and Dan Davis-Reed.  Jeff met Abeita (Ethelbah) Cromwell as his companion.  They spent many years together and became part of her family with her children and grandchildren.  His favorite was Darris Colelay, whom he spoiled.

Jeff was preceded in death by both parents and both grandparents; brothers:  Henry Nez Sr., Abel Reed & Pastor Ernie Reed; sister:  Jean (Reed) Baha; his sons:  Daryl Reed and Dan Davis-Reed; both his wife and his companion and stepsons:  Chet, Virgil and Nathaniel Colelay.

He is survived by three siblings:  Steve Reed, Margaret (Reed) Edwards and Alberta (Reed) Gregg; grandsons:  Cody & Colten Reed and Darris Colelay; stepchildren, grandchildren, many nephews and nieces and cousins (Pammy, Pearl, Doris & Alfred).

Thank you to the White Mountain Apache Tribe, Silver Creek Mortuary, Heritage of Globe, AZ, Lamont Mortuary, WMAT-ALTC, WMAT Public Works, Abeita’s children, Sue, Aimee, Christina and Cobre Valley Regional Hospital.

“Oh, the last goodbye’s the hardest one to say,

And this is where the cowboy rides away.”

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Jefferson Reed, please visit our floral store.