Richard Reed

CHARLESTON, Mo. -- Richard Thompson "Dick" Reed, 78, of Charleston, formerly of East Prairie, Mo., died Saturday June 29, 2002, at Methodist Hospital in Memphis, Tenn.

He was born Nov. 10, 1923, in Poplar Bluff, Mo., son of Buel and Rose Birkhead Reed. He and Dorothy Farmer Reed were married June 21, 1944 in Charleston.

Thompson lived in Mississippi County most of his life where he was the former president and CEO of the First Bank of East Prairie for 30 years, received a 50 year pin from the Charleston Masonic Lodge #407 AF and AM, a 50 year pin from the Scottish Rites Mason of the Valley of St. Louis. He was a member of the Shriners Temple in St. Louis, a past president and member of the Charleston R-2 School Board, served on the board of the East Prairie and Charleston Nutrition Centers and was a former member of the East Prairie Lions Club. He was a member of the Methodist faith fro 70 years. He served as lay leader, church board of trustee's member, Sunday school teacher and member of Nelson United Methodist Church in East Prairie until moving to Charleston. There he became a member of the United Methodist Church in Charleston.

Reed was on the Missouri Conservation Department Board of Directors from 1983 to 1989 and after his term he was appointed a lifetime Emeritus on the conservation board. In 1997, a unit of the 10-mile pond wildlife refugee was named after him. He was also a past member of the board of directors with Mid-America Teen Challenge in Cape Girardeau.

Survivors include his wife; a daughter, Pat Stiefel of Virginia Beach, Va.; a son, Richard "Rick" Reed of Charleston; a brother, Don Reed of Winona, Mo.; a sister, Susanna Barnett of Bellview, Wash.; and four grandsons.

Friends may call at the Shelby Funeral Home in East Prairie from 5 to 8 p.m. today and from 9 to 11 a.m. Tuesday at the United Methodist Church in Charleston.

Funeral will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the church. Bros. Ed Hankinson, Gerald Collier and Richard Combs will officiate with burial in the Odd Fellows Cemetery near Charleston.

Shelby Funeral Home in East Prairie is in charge of arrangements.