Effie Mae Reed

Mrs. Walter C. Reed, Sr. Passes Away in Converse County Memorial Hospital Monday, Last Services There Thursday

Mrs. Effie M. Reed, 77, wife of the late Walter C. Reed, Sr. prominent cattleman and banker of Niobrara County, passed away Monday, January 25th at the Converse County Memorial hospital in Douglas, Wyo.

Funeral services are being held at 2:30 o'clock this (Thursday) afternoon from the Methodist Church of Douglas. Interment will be made in the family plot beside the remains of her husband in the Douglas cemetery.

Effie M. Stevens was born in Detroit, Mich., August 28, 1878, a daughter of Frank and Jane Stevens. When Effie was a young child, the family came westward to Alliance, Nebr., making the trip with the first load of furniture brought to Alliance by the railroad.

Her parents operated a hotel in Alliance, and Effie Stevens became familiar with many of the West's notables and characters. For many years she treasured a pistol which had been the property of Jesse James. While James was serving time in the penitentiary, he sent a kitten door stop to Effie.

She was about 18 years of age when she moved to the ranch operated by her brother at Whistle Creek, Nebr. near Alliance.

Her marriage to Walter C. Reed was solemnized March 28, 1896 at Harrison, Nebr. They resided on a ranch 28 miles south of Harrison, later moved to Mitchell, Nebr. and into Harrison, Nebr., then out to Idaho, finally returning to Lusk, where Mr. Reed was engaged in banking and the cattle business. He preceded her in death in 1939, passing away at the family home now occupied by Patrolman and Mrs. M. S. Jordan at 404 South Main Street, in Lusk. Two sons, Asa and Walter, Jr. also preceded their mother in death.

Survivors include two daughters, Mrs. Frankie Hern, with whom she had made her home in Douglas, and Mrs. Harry Russell of Basin, Wyo., three sons, Jim Reed of Newcastle, Wyo., Ray Reed of Lance Creek, Wyo., and Joe Reed of Camp Cook, So. Dak., 12 grandchildren and one great-grandchild and a sister, Mrs. True Miller of Alliance, Nebr.

The Lusk Herald
January 28, 1954
Mrs. Walter Reed Dies in Douglas

Mrs. Walter Reed, Sr., died at a Douglas hospital at 5:00 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 26, after being in failing health for a number of years due to her advanced age.

Funeral services will be conducted from the Methodist Church in Douglas Thursday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock.

A complete obituary will be published in next week's Herald.

The Lusk Herald
February 4, 1954
Funeral Services For Mrs. Effie Reed Held Thurs.

Funeral services for Mrs. Effie Reed, 77, long time resident of Lusk, were held in the Methodist Church in Douglas Thursday, Jan. 28. Mrs. Reed died in the Converse County Memorial Hospital Jan. 26 after being in poor health for several months.

Effie Mae Stevens was born in Detroit, Mich. Aug. 28, 1876, the daughter of Frank and Jane Stevens. When but a young child, she came to Alliance, Nebr. with her parents, where her father was engaged in the hotel business for a time. It was here that she became acquainted with many of the west's notables and characters, among which are Jesse James. For many years she treasured a pistol which had been his and while he was in the penitentiary he sent her a kitten door stop.

On Mar. 28, 1896, she was married to Walter C. Reed at Harrison. Following their marriage they made their home on a ranch midway between Mitchell and Harrison, later moving to Harrison to send their children to high school. In 1912 the family moved to Idaho where they resided for nearly two years, then they moved to Lusk. Mr. Reed was engaged in the cattle business and was president of the Bank of Lusk.

After her husband died in 1939, Mrs. Reed moved to Douglas where she has since made her home with her daughter, Mrs. Frankie Hern.

Two sons, Asa and Walter, preceded her in death. Surviving are two daughters, Mrs. Hern of Douglas and Mrs. Harry Russell of Basin; three sons, Jim Reed of Newcastle, Ray Reed of Lance Creek and Joe Reed of Camp Cook, S. D.; 12 grandchildren, one great grandchild, and a sister, Mrs. True Miller of Alliance.

Bearing the body to its final resting place in the Douglas cemetery were her grandchildren, Bill Hern, Walter Reed, Sam Reed, Jim Reed, Jr., Ray Reed, Jr., and Harry Russell, Jr.

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