Dec. 11, 1927 - Dec. 16, 2016
Date of Service: Dec. 28, 2016
Reed Whiteley
OAKLEY - Joseph Reed Whiteley, 89, of Oakley, died Friday, Dec. 16, 2016.
He was born on December 11, 1927 - the eighth of nine children born to Joseph Earl and Amanda Elizabeth Beck Whiteley, in Oakley, Idaho. He enjoyed the strong love and support of his five sisters and three brothers throughout his life.
Reed spent his early years in Oakley during The Great Depression, through which he learned the value of hard work. The importance of an education was also instilled in him and he passed that on to his children. After graduating from Oakley High School, Reed attended Brigham Young University where he earned a degree in agronomy with a minor in chemistry. From there he went to the University of Arkansas for a master’s degree and then on to Iowa State where he received a PhD in agronomy in 1953.
After college, Reed spent a few years in the military, stationed mainly in Maryland. Upon his discharge in 1956, he returned to his roots in Oakley, where he courted a hometown beauty, Mary Jane Lee - marrying her in 1958 in the Logan LDS Temple. To them were born four children. He spent the rest of his life farming and ranching in the hometown that he loved.
Reed was a quiet man who had a great appreciation and love for the fine arts. He had many original oil paintings in his home and enjoyed listening to beautiful music – particularly Beethoven’s 6th Symphony. He also enjoyed the simple things in life like a big bowl of popcorn and listening to The Sons of the Pioneers. He was a member of the LDS church and served faithfully as a ward and stake clerk for many years as did his father before him.
Reed was preceded in death by his parents; and all of his siblings, Winslow (Dorothy), Helen (George) Taylor, Alicebeth (Robert) Ashby, Osburn, Blanche (Loftis) Sheffield, Mary (Joseph) Salisbury, John (Barbara), and Joyce (Owen) Jacobsen.
He is survived by his wife, Jane; and his children, Glendon (Wendy), Holly Ann Smith (Larry), Joseph (Anita), and Bart (Julie); 17 grandchildren; 1 great-grandchild; his brother-in-law, Owen Jacobsen; and sister-in-law, Barbara Whiteley.
In observance of Reed’s request, a graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 28, at the Oakley Cemetery, with military honors performed by the Mini-Cassia Veterans Organization.
A viewing will be held prior to the graveside service from 9:30 until 10:30 a.m. at the Oakley LDS Stake Center, 355 N. Center Avenue, Oakley, Idaho.
Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of the Rasmussen Funeral Home of Burley.
