Gail Reed, age 85, of Cozad, Nebraska, died November 9, 2020 at Emerald Care Nursing Home in Cozad.
She was born the daughter of William and Adelaide Jensen Christiansen on December 24, 1934. She was born in the same house she lived most of her life in. In her early stages of her life, she was riding horseback helping in the field. She was always ready to drive cattle, ride and herd the cattle in the cornfield or on the drive to the pasture. When the Cozad Horse Club was formed, she and her Dad rode in it along with a lot of farmers and any one that wanted to. She was the last living member of the club. They performed in a lot of different arenas.
She attended school at District 13 riding a horse when it was nice outside. One horse always loved to rub its halter off just as she knew school was out. We followed her home carrying the bridle. Noreen Benjamin was her best country friend. She graduated from Cozad High School with the class of 1952.
On January 20, 1952 she married the love of her life, John "Jack" Walter Reed in Lexington, Nebraska. They lived one year in Lexington, moving to a farm in Gothenburg, Nebraska the second year. When it came time to put up hay, Jack told her Dad we will have to hire someone to sweep. Dad smiled and pointed at Gail, and said she had been doing it for several years. Jack was shocked he didn't know that she could do a lot of things in the field. In February of 1954, they moved to the home place where they lived and raised their family and horses. Jack was involved with 4-H, so they all worked on showing calves and sheep judging. They raised 6 children, Marcia, John, Debra, Terri, Kim and Doug. The children were all involved early on: they milked cows, selling cream and milk to different people in town. Getting up at four o'clock in the morning to milk before going to work or getting the children off to school or sitting with a sow, pigging in the winter at three o'clock in the morning, or checking cows when calving.
Gail worked at the Dixie Inn, from there to Valley Vending then to Monroes for 25 years. She and Jack loved their time together working and growing a big garden to sell vegetables and baked goods in at the Farmers Market in Lexington, Gothenburg and Cozad. Gail loved her chickens, selling eggs to a lot of folks, at first, they started out with fryers later just eggs. She loved her chickens but her health shut that off. She had a lot of names, "Egg Lady", "Jelly Lady", "Pie Lady" and "Towel Lady". Her favorite past time was crocheting, or making jelly keeping on hand seventeen kinds. She loved her African violets and all flowers in her sun room. She was a member of St.Johns Lutheran Church.
Survivors include children Marcia Pedersen of Plattsmouth, NE, John (Shelly) Reed of Cozad, NE, Debra ( Dennis) Meredith of Gothenburg, NE, Terri Hergenrader (Jim McAdams) of Lincoln, NE, Kim (Todd) Morse of Omaha, NE, Doug (Kim) Reed of Seward, NE; fifteen Grandchildren, 23 Great Grandchildren and one Great Great Grandchild ,her sister, Wilma Quelle of Beatrice, NE; along with many nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.
Gail was preceded in death by her husband John (Jack); her parents and parents-in-law; son-in-law, Roger Pedersen; grandson Ryan Reed; great-grandson, Wyatt Meredith; brothers, Earl and Alvin Christiansen; sister, Helga Anderson and her husband Durl; brother-in-law, Wilbur Quelle; and sister-in-law, Mollie Christiansen.
Visitation will be held on Friday, November 13, 2020, from 1:00 PM - 7:00 PM with family present from 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM at Blase-Strauser Memorial Chapel, Gothenburg, Nebraska.
Private Family Service will take place at St. Johns Lutheran Church.
Public Graveside Services will take place at 3:00 PM on Saturday, November 14, 2020 at the St. Johns Lutheran Cemetery in Cozad, Nebrasa.
Memorials may be given to the family to be used later for 4-H trophies.