Ervin "John" Ezra Reed

Ervin Ezra "John" Reed, 77, of Union, died peacefully July 23 at his home. Gray's West & Company Pioneer Chapel in Baker City is in charge of arrangements.

John was born Oct. 26, 1931, in Okoboji, Iowa. He entered the U.S. Army in 1953 and served two years.

In 1956, he married Lucille A. Blom in Sioux Falls, S.D. The first several years of marriage they traveled from Sioux Falls to the Pacific Northwest where John was working in the construction field. In 1960, they settled in Union where they raised three daughters, Gail, Wanda and Lori.

John was an active member of Local 701, Operating Engineers from 1952 until his retirement in 1995. He was very talented in operating various pieces of heavy equipment and enjoyed this line of work which he also did in the military.

John had many interesting hobbies among which were his love of restoration of old radios, engines and tractors. He was a ham radio operator for many years and enjoyed making contacts all over the world. Much of the ham radio equipment he used, especially in the early years, he made himself. He was also an accomplished mechanic and enjoyed working with his metal lathe.

After John and Lucy raised their girls, Lucy was able to travel with him to many construction sites. They both enjoyed their travels and seeing the many different areas that John's jobs would take them. They both had a love for fishing and spent many years enjoying this time together. After his wife died, fishing continued to be a major part of his life and he enjoyed and appreciated his fishing buddies.

Survivors include his daughters, Gail Hinshaw, and her husband, Joel, of Summerville, Wanda Lee and her husband, Steven, of Umatilla and Lori Pecinovsky and her husband, Frank, of Mabel, Minn.; eight grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

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