Vara M. (Dredge) Hunt - Reed |
| Posted 2009-09-29 by Sharon |
| The Wickenburg Sun, Wickenburg, AZ June 30, 2004, p. A10 Vara M. Reed, 87, longtime winter resident of Wickenburg, Ariz. with a principal residence in St. Charles, Ill. (formerly of Wayne, Ill.) died Tuesday, June 22, 2004 in her St. Charles home, attended by CNS Hospice and Sunrise At Home agencies. The eldest child of Harold and Mildred Wright Dredge, Vara was born on March 25, 1917 in Des Moines, Iowa. The family relocated to Batavia, Ill. in 1927 where she graduated Salutatorian of the Batavia High School Class of 1935. Married to Rupert Hunt 1936-1939, Vara met Fred G. Reed, her true love, in 1941 while working in Chicago. Fred and Vara, along with Jim Ramsey, started what would become Reed-Ramsey, Inc., pioneering the field of employee benefit programs in 1942, where she became one of the top female agents in her field. They were married Oct. 3, 1946 at Ivy Hollow, their new residence in Wayne, moving to St. Charles in 1974. Their Wickenburg, Ariz. winter residence was built in 1969. A natural athlete, who excelled in school sports, Vara taught Gymnastics at Batavia High School after her graduation. She took up riding horses as therapy from a mild case of polio in the early 1940s, joining the Wayne-DuPage Hunt and riding the Arizona trails with Fred, who was known by many as the "old Indian Scout." Introduced to golf in the early 1950s, she shot par 8 of the first 9 holes she ever played and won Club Championships at St. Charles Country Club, Wickenburg Country Club and Los Caballeros Golf club. A gifted artisan, gardener and founder of the Wayne Garden Club, her decorations at the Wayne Art Show and displays at the Post Office for Christmas were renown. Her creativity and zany sense of humor inspired legendary women's golfing events, fund-raisers and parties. She is survived by three sons: Fredrick T.W. (Rick) of Plantation, Fla., Robert of Wayne, Ill. and Wickenburg, Ariz. and James of Brea, Calif. and St. Charles, Ill.; two daughters: Lynne Schroder of Mission Viejo, Calif. and Carol Tuffy, Crystal River, Fla.; seven grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. She is also survived by two sisters, Doris Lufkin and Beth Bergeson of Cedar City, Utah. Memorial services will be held at noon, July 1, 2004 at the Little Home Church by the Wayside in Wayne, Ill. Reverend Ronald Purser will officiate. Visitation and burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Alzheimer's Research Center, Regions Hospital Foundation, 640 Jackson St., St. Paul, MN 55101-2595, The Vara M. Reed Memorial. Arrangements were made by the Yurs funeral Home in St. Charles, Ill. |
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