Ervin Ezra “John” Reed, 77, of Union, died July 23, 2009, at his home.
No funeral is planned.
John was born on Oct. 26, 1931, at Okoboji, Iowa. He entered the U.S. Army in 1953 and served two years. In 1956, he married Lucille A. Blom at Sioux Falls, S.D. The first several years of marriage they traveled from Sioux Falls to the Pacific Northwest where John was working in construction.
In 1960, they settled at Union where they raised three daughters, Gail Hinshaw, (husband, Joel) of Summerville,Wanda Lee, (husband, Steven) of Umatilla and Lori Pecinovsky (husband, Frank) of Mabel, Minn. John and Lucy had eight grandchildren, Krista Hinshaw Gately, Kimberly Hinshaw Lee, Jeremy Lee, Ashley Lee Smith, Katelyn Lee, Ryan Pecinovsky, John Pecinovsky and Sara Pecinovsky. John and Lucy also had five great-grandchildren.
John was an active member of Local 701, Operating Engineers, from 1952 until his retirement in 1995. He was very talented in operating various pieces of heavy equipment and enjoyed this line of work, which he also did while serving in the military.
John had many interesting hobbies, including his love of restoring old radios, engines and tractors. He was a ham radio operator for many years and enjoyed making contacts all over the world. Much of the ham radio equipment he used, especially in the early years, he made himself. He was also an accomplished mechanic and enjoyed working with his metal lathe.
After John and Lucy raised their girls, Lucy was able to travel with him to many construction sites. They both enjoyed their travels and seeing the many different areas where John’s jobs would take them. They both had a love for fishing and spent many years enjoying this time together.
After his wife died, fishing continued to be a major part of John’s life and he enjoyed and appreciated his fishing buddies.
Gray’s West & Co. Pioneer Chapel is in charge of arrangements.
Used with permission from: Baker City Herald, Baker City, Oregon, July 29, 2009
Transcribed by: Belva Ticknor