Maurice Reed

Funeral services for Maurice Reed of Crawford, Nebraska, will be held Thursday, November 2nd, at 2:00PM, at Chamberlain Chapel in Chadron Nebraska. Visitation will be Wednesday, November 1st, in Crawford at Chamberlain Chapel. A memorial has been established for the Crawford Rural Fire Department. Donations may be sent to Chamberlain Chapel, PO Box 970, Chadron NE 69337.
Mr. Reed passed away Saturday, October 28th, 2017, at Ponderosa Villa, In Crawford Nebraska.
Maurice was born September 11, 1919 on a farm on the table Southeast of Crawford, near Squaw Mound to Ralph and Bardeana Reed. He was the fifth of nine children, five boys and four girls, all of which preceded him in death.
He lived on the farm until 1941 when he entered the Army. He was stationed in the South Pacific (New Guinea and Australia) he was a Gunnery Sargent of 105 howitzers. He also broke pack mules and horses. He told of one horse he broke bareback so when the officers went to ride with a saddle they would get thrown off. He later got jungle rot and injured his knee. After recovery, he was awaiting orders to be shipped off to Japan to fight when the war ended.
After coming home he worked on the farm until he met Evelyn on a blind date to a dance in Crawford. They married in January of 1947.
They then lived in Crawford where Maurice worked for the refinery hauling crude oil from Lusk Wyoming to Crawford. He also worked at the John Deere Dealership in Crawford during the winter months. He later bought a terracer and built most of the terraces in Dawes County in the early 50's.
In the fall of 1953 his parents retired from the farm by Squaw Mound and he and Evelyn moved there and raised their family: Lloyd (Shirley) Reed of Loveland Colorado, Diane Durnin of Portland Oregon, Sue Daise of Whitney NE.
While living in the Squaw Mound Community they enjoyed many hours of penochle and square dancing. After the children left home, they traveled to England, Scotland, and Ireland. They also enjoyed many bus tours in the USA and Canada.
In 1961 Maurice bought The Reed homestead (1885) from his uncle Earl Reed. It is still owned by the family.
He is survived by his wife, three children, five grandchildren, and five great grandchildren.

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