Francis Lavern "Buzz" Reed
January 5, 1918 — February 29, 2008
Francis “Buzz” L. Reed, 90, of Manchester, died Friday, February 29, 2008 at the Good Neighbor Home in Manchester following a brief illness.
Memorial services will be 11:00 a.m. Monday, March 3, 2008 at First Lutheran Church in Manchester by Rev. Dr. Jean Rabary. Family will greet friends from 2-6 p.m. Sunday at the Bohnenkamp-Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Service in Manchester and one hour before services Monday at the church. Burial with military honors will be in Greenwood Cemetery, Masonville, at a later date.
Francis was born January 5, 1918 in Masonville, the son of Albert and Cordie (Rees) Reed. He attended school in Masonville then worked for Illinois Central Railroad. On August 30, 1941, Francis was united in marriage to Kathleen E. Leighton at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Manchester. He was drafted into the United States Army during World War II in 1943. He served in Italy as an engineer and was a military police officer for German prisoners of war in Alabama. Following discharge, the couple lived in California before settling in Manchester. Francis worked as a foreman at Henderson Manufacturing for 47 years, retiring in 1982.
Francis was a member of the V.F.W. Post #6637 and Manchester Fire Department. He loved hunting, fishing and enjoyed bowling.
Francis is survived by three daughters, Deb (Tim) Rudd and Betty Reed, both of Manchester, and Carol Mesch of Independence; ten grandchildren; and eleven great-grandchildren.
Francis was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Kathleen in 1994; a son, James L. Reed; a great-grandchild; and a half-brother.
Please sign our online guestbook for Francis at www.murdochfuneralhome.com under obituaries.
Memorial services will be 11:00 a.m. Monday, March 3, 2008 at First Lutheran Church in Manchester by Rev. Dr. Jean Rabary. Family will greet friends from 2-6 p.m. Sunday at the Bohnenkamp-Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Service in Manchester and one hour before services Monday at the church. Burial with military honors will be in Greenwood Cemetery, Masonville, at a later date.
Francis was born January 5, 1918 in Masonville, the son of Albert and Cordie (Rees) Reed. He attended school in Masonville then worked for Illinois Central Railroad. On August 30, 1941, Francis was united in marriage to Kathleen E. Leighton at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Manchester. He was drafted into the United States Army during World War II in 1943. He served in Italy as an engineer and was a military police officer for German prisoners of war in Alabama. Following discharge, the couple lived in California before settling in Manchester. Francis worked as a foreman at Henderson Manufacturing for 47 years, retiring in 1982.
Francis was a member of the V.F.W. Post #6637 and Manchester Fire Department. He loved hunting, fishing and enjoyed bowling.
Francis is survived by three daughters, Deb (Tim) Rudd and Betty Reed, both of Manchester, and Carol Mesch of Independence; ten grandchildren; and eleven great-grandchildren.
Francis was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Kathleen in 1994; a son, James L. Reed; a great-grandchild; and a half-brother.
Please sign our online guestbook for Francis at www.murdochfuneralhome.com under obituaries.
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