Graveside services for Arrel Leston Reed, age 93, of Yukon, Ok, formerly of Kingfisher, are 10:00 am, Saturday, February 6, 2016 at Memorial Park Cemetery, 6405 Memorial Drive, Enid, OK. Bill Reed of Followers of Christ Church will officiate. There will be a visitation for family and friends following the graveside service at Ladusau-Evans Funeral Home, 2800 N. Van Buren, Enid, OK from 11:00 am to 12:30 pm. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Ladusau-Evans Funeral Home.
Arrel was born January 30, 1923 in Ringwood, Oklahoma to Milo Glenn Reed and Grace (Oakley) Reed. He passed away Wednesday, February 3, 2016 in Oklahoma City, OK.
Arrel graduated from Kremlin High School, then received a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and Master of Education in School Administration from Phillips University and pursued doctoral work at the University of Oklahoma. He served his country in the U.S. Navy from 1944 to 1946. He married Velma Kesner on August 12, 1948 in Enid, and they had four children.
Mr. Reed began his teaching career in Hillsdale and Drummond teaching math and business from 1946-1949. His ambitions then took him into the realm of administration where he served as principal for Carrier Schools from 1949-1955. He was superintendent of Omega Schools and Okarche Schools from 1955-1972. He then moved to Kingfisher Public School System as principal at Geen Gilmore Middle School from 1972 through 1982. From 1982 until his retirement in 1986 he served the school system as assistant superintendent. He was a founder and honorary lifetime member of the Kingfisher Educational Foundation. In 2003, he was inducted into the Kingfisher High School Hall of Fame. As a forty-plus year member, he received the Melvin Jones Fellow Award, the highest award given by the Lions Club International. Upon retirement, Mr. Reed enjoyed spending time golfing, bowling, gardening and traveling to many places abroad with his children and their families.
He is preceded in death by his mother, father, step-mother Ada, and sister Fern.
Mr. Reed is survived by his wife of 67 years, Velma, of the home in Yukon; four children, Joel Reed and wife Ann of San Diego, CA; Rhonda Simpson and husband Mike of Mustang, OK; Mark Reed and wife DeeAnn of Wichita Falls, TX; Alisa Lukasek and husband Don of Houston, TX; ten grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren, three step-brothers and three step-sisters.
The family requests in lieu of flowers that memorial donations be made to the Kingfisher Educational Foundation or the Kingfisher Lions Club with Ladusau-Evans Funeral Home serving as custodian of the funds.
Condolences may be made online at www.ladusauevans.com.