Mercedes Miriam (Mert) Reed
Mercedes Miriam “Mert” Reed, age 83, of Shelby, died Wednesday, October 30, 2013 at her home.
Mert was born June 10, 1930 in Galion, Ohio to the late Charles and Hattie (Epley) Newland. She retired as a cafeteria worker from Shelby City Schools. Mert was an active member of Trinity United Methodist Church in Shelby and its Naomi Circle. She served as worship chairman for over 40 years, volunteered at Trinity Shining Lights Preschool, and was always willing to make pies and other desserts for funeral dinners and other church functions. She was also a member of the Shelby Civitan Club, liked to draw, and often baked cookies for Abraxas. Hallmark stock has potential to drop as Mert had a ministry of sending cards to family and friends to congratulate, comfort, encourage and to stay in touch.
On November 16, 1947, Mert married James C. Reed and he survives. Also surviving are her 5 children and their spouses: James S. (Rebecca Butcher) Reed of Camp Verde, AZ, Debra (Stephen) Wilkinson of Bryson City, NC, Jayne (Darrell) Rine of Akron, Mark (Darlene) Reed of Shelby, Sue (Kelly) Stanford of Shelby; 12 grandchildren and their spouses; 7 great grandchildren; a brother: Frank (Charlotte) Newland of Virginia; 2 sisters: Betty Chandler of Texas, Patricia (Roger) Sites of Shelby; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law: Lynn Sowers of Wyoming, Dick (Judy) Reed of Shelby, Elaine Reed of Shelby. She was preceded in death by 2 brothers: Charles Newland, Russell Newland; 4 sisters: Marguerite Sowers, Helen Patterson, Donna Bercaw, Evelyn Kalb; brother-in-law and sister-in-law: Ned Reed, Donna Clabaugh.
Family and friends are welcome on Sunday, November 3, 2013 from 2-5 PM at the Turner Funeral Home, 168 West Main Street, Shelby. Funeral services will be held on Monday, November 4, 2013 at 11 AM at Trinity United Methodist Church in Shelby with Rev. Karl Stonebraker and Rev. James Humphrey officiating. Memorial contributions may be made to Trinity Shining Lights Preschool.
To share a memory or express a condolence, please visit: penwellturner.com
Jayne & All of the Reed Families: My deepest sympathy to all of you. My heart goes out to you all. I will keep you all in my thoughts and prayers.
Reed Family,
Mert was always a pleasure to see at church on Sundays and I always made sure to stop by and say hello. It’s always nice to see people from our church family that have been a part of it ever since I was a little kid! She will be sorely missed from the Trinity family and I will miss seeing her next time I am home and able to go to church. My sympathies are with all of you at this difficult time.
-Blake
Jayne,
Your mom was a very sweet woman and kind to all of us. May God comfort you and keep you, in your loss, as she goes home to meet Him. You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers, as I know you will miss her deeply. -Kris
I’m so sorry for your loss. Your family will be in my thoughts and prayers as you go through this sad, difficult time. My sympathies to all of you.
To the Reed family, we were so sorry to hear of the loss of your mother and grandmother. You are all in our thoughts and prayers. She will be missed, but the memories of her will stay with you forever.
Jayne and all of the Reed Family,
You are in my thought and prayers. Remember the joyous life your mom led and all the kind things she did for others. Her memory lives on with the wonderful family, their smiles and laughter.
Sorry to hear the loss of your Mother.
Mary Lou ( Troxell) Ruckman
Reed Family ~
Our thoughts and prayers are with you at this time of great loss. Mert was surely one of the kindest individuals we have ever known and she will be greatly missed. While we grieve at her loss on earth, heaven rejoices at her arrival. We will always have fond memories. God Bless!
The night Gramma passed away my husband Chris and I were getting ready to do devotions and this was our topic: Time and Eternity. When looking up the scripture to go with our devotions it was Ecclesiastes 3:1-15. The heading for the chapter in my bible: There’s A Right Time For Everything.
Ecclesiastes 3:1-15 “1 There is a time for everything, a season for every activity under heaven. 2 A time to be born and a time to die. A time to plant and a time to harvest. 3 A time to kill and a time to heal. A time to tear down and a time to rebuild. 4 A time to cry and a time to laugh. A time to grieve and a time to dance. 5 A time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones. A time to embrace and a time to turn away. 6 A time to search and a time to lose. A time to keep and a time to throw away. 7 A time to tear and a time to mend. A time to be quiet and a time to speak up. 8 A time to love and a time to hate. A time for war and a time for peace. 9 What do people really get for all their work? 10 I have thought about this in connection with the various kinds of work God has given people to do. 11 God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end. 12 So I concluded that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to enjoy themselves as long as they can. 13 And people should eat and drink and enjoy the fruits of their labor, for these are gifts from God. 14 And I know that whatever God does is final. Nothing can be added to it or taken from it. God’s purpose in this is that people should fear him. 15 Whatever exists today and whatever will exist in the future has already existed in the past. For God calls each event back in its turn.” ~NLT
No matter what happens in our life, whether great moments of joy or times of pain and loss, God is always by our side and wanting us to lean on Him. I hope these verses touch you like they did me. It was exactly what I needed to be comforted at that time.
Sue, Kelly and family, We’re so sorry to hear of your loss. Please know you are in our prayers.
Jim and Family,
Our hearts and prayers are with you during this difficult time of Mert’s homegoing. In the midst of the sadness, we rejoice with you knowing she is resting the the arms of her Lord and Savior. Cherish the wonderful memories that she left with you. They are a gift from God! Would love to be there to give you a hug but we are already in Florida. We will continue to pray for you in the days ahead. Love to all!
Heaven gained a beautiful Angel! I am so sorry for the loss of a wife, a mother, a grandmother, an aunt, a friend and simply just an amazing lady! Cherish all the memories:). May God wrap his arms around each of you and give you the strength, courage and love during these difficult days!
Jim, Jim, Debbie, Jayne, Mark, Sue, & Families, Our thoughts & prayers are with all of the Reed family in the loss of your mother & wife!
Jim and Family,
Our hearts are with all of you. We wish we could be there with you in person. So glad we were able to be with you in July for our Bob Evans’ breakfast. We will keep in touch. May God in His mercy meet your every need.
Love to All, Wilma Jean and Nancy
Words fail me but this seems perfect!
I AM FREE
Don’t grieve for me for now I’m free
I am following the path God laid for me.
I took His hand when I heard Him call
I turned my back and left it all.
I could not stay another day
To laugh, to love, to work or play.
Tasks left undone must stay that way
I found that peace at the close of day.
If my parting has left a void,
Then fill it with remembered joy.
Be not burdened with time of sorrow
I wish for you the sunshine of tomorrow.
Perhaps my time seemed all to brief
Don’t lengthen it now with undue grief.
Lift up your heart and share with me
God wanted me now –He set me free!
We will forever have Mertie’s love in our hearts!!!!
Sue and Family ~ Sincere sympathy at this very difficult time. God Bless.
Sue, Mark, and family, Your mom was a gem. I will always remember her at SHS cafeteria. She always used to tease me about how picky I was with the food and she knew what I liked and didn’t like. She remembered me from when I was a kid when my dad used to bring me up to your house to visit with your dad. She always made me feel so special at school because I knew she knew my dad!!! May God bless you with happy memories of her until you all see her again!!!!