James "Jim" Calvin Reed

James C. "Jim" Reed

Funeral services for Niobrara County rancher James C. "Jim" Reed, 70, were conducted Sept. 12, 2003, at the Niobrara County Fairgrounds by Congregational Church Pastor Juanita Giles. Interment was in the Lusk Cemetery.

Jim Reed died Sept. 6, 2003, in Seattle, Wash. He had suffered a stroke Aug. 23, while fishing in British Columbia, Canada, with his lifelong friend, Richard "Ski" Polaski.

Born Feb. 12, 1933, in Douglas, Wyo., Jim the oldest son of Earl C. and Elizabeth Reed of the Cheyenne River Community in northern Niobrara County.

He was raised on the family ranch along the Cheyenne River. He graduated from Lusk High School in 1950, then enlisted and served in the US Navy from 1951-1955. He returned to the family ranch where he worked with his father and his only brother Thomas Reed.

Jim married Carla Mill of Hat Creek, in 1954. They celebrated their 49th wedding anniversary on Aug. 1, 2003. Together they raised three children, Jake, Lori and Jeff, on their Cheyenne River ranch.

Jim was a lifelong member of the Wyoming Stockgrowers Association, and served several terms on the executive committee for Niobrara County. He also served on the Niobrara County School Board.

A lifetime member of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) he frequently flew to the western states and Canada on business and vacation. Receiving his pilot's license at age 17, he later flew for the Niobrara County Predator Board.

A rancher with a keen eye for quality cattle, Jim moved from a commercial to a purebred Saler and Red Angus cattle operation in the 1980's. He often flew every day to check the cattle and their water supply, and would always do a "fly by" of the family home and neighbors, to wake all who were still asleep. Jim felt, "If I'm up, everyone else should be up."

In his later years, he enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren, teaching them to ride, hunt and fish. He was passionate about teaching children how to ride, and how to handle cattle with their horses.

Safe and proper gun handling was also a vital skill he taught them. Jim spent many winter months loading ammunition in the old bunkhouse. With fervor he released his ammunition upon many a ranch varmint.

His sometimes-gruff exterior could never hide his soft generous heart.

He is survived by all who loved him; his wife, Carla, of the family ranch, son Jake, his wife Lorrie and their two daughters, Staci and Jamie Reed of Lusk; daughter Lori (Reed) Murphy, her husband Pat, and their three sons, Michael, Sean and Darren Murphy of Casper, son Jeff, his wife, Danese, and their three children, Kaylee, Kristen and Jordan Reed of the family ranch.

He was preceded in death by his parents, two nieces, and very recently by his brother Tom Reed of Lander, Wyo.

Memorials to the Niobrara County Library Foundation may be sent in care of Cicmanec-Pier Funeral Home, 101 W. Fourth, Lusk, WY 82225.

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