John “Weldon” Reed September 8, 1927 ~ May 22, 2026 (age 98)

Funeral services for Weldon Reed, 98, of Portales, will be held at 10:00 AM, Wed. May 27, 2026, in the Wheeler Mortuary Chapel with Rev. Wesley McAfee officiating.  Burial will follow in the Floyd Cemetery with Brandon Reed, Bobby Reed, Justin Ashley, Ryan Ashley, Trent Goolsby, James Richardson, Steve Caton and Lance Goodall serving as pallbearers.  The family would like to extend special appreciation to the staff of the Bee Hive of Portales and the Interim Hospice workers.  Those desiring to make memorial contributions may send them to the New Mexico Babtist Children’s Home, P O Box 629, Portales, NM 88130.

John Weldon Reed, known to virtually everyone as Weldon was born Sept. 8, 1927, in Amherst, TX to the home Mary “Lola” (Cole) and John Freeland Reed, and passed from this life on Friday, May 22, 2026 in Portales, NM.  The family moved to the Floyd community when he was a teenager, and he completed his schooling in Floyd.  On Oct. 22, 1948, he was married to Laura “Vernell” McGowen.  Mr. Reed farmed for the majority of his lifetime beginning in 1949, and finally retiring from that career about the year 2000.  In addition, during that time, Weldon went back to college and earned a Bachelors’ Degree in Education and later a Master’s Degree in Administration from Eastern New Mexico University.  In 1971 he began a 17-year career in education serving as both a classroom teacher and principal at the elementary school in Melrose.  For many years, Weldon was an active member of the N.E.A. and had served a term as State President.

Mr. Reed along with his wife enjoyed collecting antiques.  He had rebuilt a number of antique tractors and collected antique cars.  Their antique collection contained everything from old telephones to china and everything in between.  Weldon was also an accomplished woodworker, and made numerous items including a variety of wooden toys.

He and his wife were members of Good Sams for several years, and enjoyed the trips and fellowship with others from the area.  They also enjoyed traveling on their own, and had visited the state capitals of every state as well as traveling over most of Canada.  He and his wife were present in Washington DC for the observance of the 200th anniversary of the United States.  Their travels also took them to Europe.  In addition to their other activities, he and Mrs. Reed attended literally hundreds of ballgames of all varieties.  He was a member of the Floyd Baptist Church, and had also been a member at different times of the Floyd and Melrose Lions Clubs.

He is survived by two sons and daughters-in-law, Joe and Becky Reed of Melrose and Kenny and Darla Reed of Portales; a daughter, Rosa Lee Goolsby of Casper, WY; a son-in-law, Jeff Ashley of Melrose; nine grandchildren, Teri and Lance Goodall, Trent Goolsby, Ryan and Amanda Ashely, Justin and Lauren Ashley, D’Layna Moore, Robin and Stve Caton, Brandon and ana Reed, Bobby and Joanna Reed and Brook and James Richarson; several great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren; and a sister, Fay Reed Staples of Abilene, TX.  He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother, Ray Reed, two sisters, Thelma Owen and Oleta Holmes, a daughter, Ruth Ashley, a son-in-law, Jimmy Goolsby, and by his beloved wife, Vernell, who died June 13, 2016 after more than 67 years of marriage.

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