Paula Marie Springmeyer Reed

A graveside service is 11 a.m. Thursday at Garden Cemetery for fourth-generation Nevadan and Minden native Paula Marie Springmeyer Reed, 87, who died June 13, 2009, at Carson Valley Residential Care Center in Gardnerville.

She was born July 1, 1921, on Mono Avenue to Herman C. and Pauline Jepsen Springmeyer, both of native Carson Valley families.

She lived her entire life of almost 88 years in Carson Valley, leaving for only two years during WWII to drive trucks for the Army in Tacoma, Wash.

She married her husband, Frank Edward Reed, in September 1941 in Gardnerville. Together they bought her grandmother's (Theresa Neddenriep Springmeyer) home at Waterloo in 1947 where they lived throughout their marriage. She and Ed were married for 60 years until his death in 2002.

Mrs. Reed was well known within the community. She worked as a bookkeeper for the Minden Milling Company in the early 1950s and for Reed-Meneley Insurance from 1953 to 1960. In 1960, she and her husband purchased the Richfield Service Station in Minden and operated it for 21 years. Mrs. Reed always supported local organizations with purchases and donations during those business years.

She loved the outdoors. Deer hunting, camping, Jeeping, fishing and snowmobiling were some of her favorite pastimes. Indoor hobbies included arts and crafts, cross stitch and needlepoint. She was never without a project.

Sharing stories of the old days in Carson Valley was something that brought Mrs. Reed great pleasure and she was often interviewed by Douglas County Historical Society members for her knowledge. Her vivid memories and recollections of days gone by were with her to the very end.

Mrs. Reed was preceded in death by an infant daughter, Marcia Lynn; her parents; brother Leslie Springmeyer; and her husband.

She is survived by her children, son Brett (Carolyn) Reed Sr. and daughter Karen McGee; grandchildren Brett (Hattie) Reed Jr., Erik (Kellie) Lee of Reno, Seth Lee and Laurel Winterbourne of Reno; great-grandchild Hunter Reed; younger sister Myra McCollum of Carson City; and numerous extended family members.

A reception will follow the service at Carson Valley United Methodist Church on Centerville Lane where mourners will be encouraged to share their memories and stories of Mrs. Reed.

Donations in her name may be made to either the Douglas County Animal Shelter or St. Mary's Hospice Care.