Clear, 26° F
(March 19, 1927 - April 29, 2015)
Helen C. Reed died April 29, 2015, at West Park Long Term Care Center in Cody. She was 88.
Helen was born March 19, 1927, at Odessa on Shell Creek to Benjamin and Alice (Sheldon) Scharen.
Her early life was on the family farm on Shell Creek with her parents, one sister and six brothers.
She attended the Shell School until transferring to Greybull, graduating in 1945. She went on to the University of Wyoming.
On Oct. 26, 1947, Helen married her high school sweetheart, Robert George Reed, after his return from WWII. Their children are Charlotte, Nancy, R. Benjamin, Sharon and Ronald.
After moving to Cody in 1955, Helen went to work at Husky Oil Company until she retired. She worked full time and always looked for opportunities to enrich the lives of her family and community.
She was a charter member of Daughters of the American Revolution, active in Jobs Daughters and DeMolay, scouting, Rolling Meals and the Cody United Methodist Church.
With a friend, she started the Cody chapter of the American Cancer Society. People knew her as the “Daffodil Lady,” selling the spring flowers for the ACS. She started Cody’s Relay for Life and founded a local genealogical society.
Helen and George were involved in the Veterans of Foreign Wars, receiving awards for their patriotism and dedication. Helen served as president of the VFW Auxiliary at every level and also served on the Auxiliary’s National Council. Helen and George placed flags on veterans’ graves on Memorial Day.
Helen was preceded in death by her husband George in 2006, her parents, five brothers and her sister.
She is survived by children Charlotte (David) Wright, Nancy (Glen) Holm, Ben Reed (Sharon Leroy), Sharon (Danny Smith) and Ron (Carrie) Reed; grandchildren Brook Shafer, Kelly Hahn, Sydney (Roger) Weitz, Jessi Morris, Chynna Reed, Carter Reed, Tana (Bryant) Holmes and Dan Smith; eight great-grandchildren; brother Joe (May) Scharen; sister-in-laws Carrie Thayer, Ardys Reed and Bonnie Scharen; many cousins, nieces and nephews.
Services will be 10 a.m. Friday, May 8, at Cody United Methodist Church.
Contributions may be made to The American Cancer Society.
