Harriet Reed

Harriet R. (Wassenaar) Reed of Springfield, died July 19, 2014.  She was born May 4, 1927 in McBain, MI the daughter of Jan Annes Wassenaar, of the Netherlands, and Mary Sophia (Clemence) Wassenaar of Dowling, MI. She attended the Parker and Monroe Schools in Barry County for elementary grades and Springfield School for the fifth through the ninth grades.  In 1945 she graduated from Battle Creek Central High School where she was a member of the National Honor Society.  Harriet was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church.  She was employed at Realty Bond and Mortgage Company during high school.  After high school graduation, she worked as a Clerk and Clerk-Stenographer at Percy Jones Station Hospital, Fort Custer and at Percy Jones Army Hospital in Battle Creek.  She was a legal secretary to Attorneys Andrew Cooke, Michael and John Rae; and then as a secretary to Lee Mallison at Michigan National Bank, Trust Department. Harriet worked as a stenographer for Defense Property Disposal and Logistics Services Center at the Federal Center; retiring from the Department of Defense in 1989. She was married to Thomas H. Reed of Battle Creek on June 12, 1948 at St. Philip Catholic Church.  He preceded her in death, October 7, 2005. A son, Philip, died as an infant on January 18, 1949.  Surviving is a son, Timothy Reed of Battle Creek and daughters Janine (Steve) Diebel of Gaylord, MI; Valerie (Dave) Geary of Battle Creek; and Mary Katherine (Timothy) Borgman of Allegan, MI.  Also surviving are 12 grandchildren: Travis (Jamie) Reed; Bethany (Andrew) Cowen; Chelsea Reed, Sarah (David) Poirot; Aaron (Gabrielle) Hill; Logan and Sean Diebel; Zollie, Havilah, Sunshine, and Rainbow Schut; Chris Borgman; and 7 great-grandchildren: Grace and Emmett Poirot; Teva Little; Mason Cowen; Katie Mae Reed, Ella Jean Schut, and Edeline Maida Hill. Proceeding Harriet in death were sisters: Margaret (Glenn) Hale, Marian Wassenaar, Daisy (George) Lamberton and Florence (Charles) Edgin and brothers Fayette (Letha) and Richard (Sarah) Wassenaar. Harriet enjoyed genealogy, collecting antique bobbin lace bobbins, sewing, hat making, snowshoeing, and shoveling snow. Harriet was active in Boy Scouts of America as a Den Mother and with Girl Scouts of America for more than 30 years as a Troop Leader to Junior, Cadette, and Senior Girl Scouts. Girl Scouts Heart of Michigan Council (formerly Glowing Embers Girl Scout Council) honored Tom and Harriet’s dedication to Girl Scouting by naming the boating beach at Camp Merrie Woode “Reeds’ Landing”.  Funeral services will be held 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at the Richard A. Henry Funeral Home with interment to follow at Memorial Park Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Tuesday from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. with the Rosary to be recited at 7:00 p.m. Memorial donations can be directed to Girl Scouts Heart of Michigan – Reeds Landing, to continue Harriet’s service to Girl Scouting. www.henryfuneralhome.org

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