Norma Jane Reed

Norma J. Reed, 85, died on Sunday, September 20, 2015.

She was born on September 8th, 1930 in Battle Creek, the daughter of Harold E. and Katherine (Kindig) Reed. Norma was a 1948 graduate of Lakeview High School. She retired from Michigan Bell in 1989, where she worked for 38 years. Norma was one of the first women trained in engineering and line toll testing; a position traditionally held by men at that time.

Norma was an active member of St. Philip Catholic Church and an avid St. Philip Tigers fan. She was a Jeweled Ambassador for the Battle Creek Community Foundation, volunteered at the Binder Park Zoo for many years and enjoyed baseball games at Bailey Park. She was always ready for an adventure, traveling extensively in the US and abroad including the Philippines, Africa and Europe. Her adventurous spirit started early when in 1951, Norma and three other women completed a bicycle ride from Seattle, Washington to Los Angeles, California – a route of more than 1300 miles!!

Norma was preceded in death by her parents, her brother Thomas (Harriet) Reed and is survived by her brother James (Pauline) Reed; nieces and nephews; many close friends; and her constant companion "Peppe".

Friends will be received 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., Tuesday at Farley Estes & Dowdle Funeral Home & Cremation Care, where the Rosary will be recited at 7:00 p.m., Tuesday. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by Fr. John D. Fleckenstein at St. Philip Roman Catholic Church 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, September 23, 2015. Committal and interment will follow at Memorial Park Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to Bronson at Home Good Samaritan Hospice, 165 Washington Avenue N, Battle Creek, MI 49037-2728 or to the Norma J. Reed Scholarship Fund through the Battle Creek Community Foundation, 32 W. Michigan Avenue, Suite 1, Battle Creek, MI 49017-9984. Personal messages for the family may be placed at www.farleyestesdowdle.com.