Obituary: Allan Dean Reed
Allan Dean Reed was born on April 5th, 1952, at the Ringgold County Hospital in Mount Ayr to Kenneth and Don Ella Reed. He was welcomed home by his oldest sister, Phyllis, then later he helped welcome younger sisters Alyce, Lisa, and Debbie. He was a great brother to all his sisters.
Allan started his path at Zwick Country School near Blackmore Corner. When they moved to the farm south of Tingley, he entered a much larger school in Tingley. Allan was very apprehensive, and it was a difficult transition for him. He loved country school. Allan was baptized in the Tingley Presbyterian Church. He enjoyed fishing with Grandma Hazel because she always caught a fish. He also was an avid hunter and enjoyed breaking horses and riding them. Allan never met a dog he didn’t like, except one! Allan was a wrestler for the Raiders and graduated with the class of 1970. He furthered his education at NWMSU where he graduated in 1974 with a degree in Agribusiness. Allan went to work full time for the Chicago Northwestern Railroad where he had worked during his summers in college. Allan retired from the railroad after 40 years.
Allan married the love of his life, Linda McNeeley, in 1978. They resided in Redding. In 1983, they bought and moved to a farm in Spickard, Missouri where they raised horses, sheep, chickens, and rabbits. In 2012, they built a new house where they happily resided.
Allan thoroughly enjoyed his nieces and nephews and looked forward to every time he got to see great nieces and nephews.
Allan passed away on November 4, 2025. He was preceded in death by his parents Don Ella (Dailey) and Kenny Reed; parents-in-law Ron and Mary McNeeley; grandparents Pete (Glen) and Hazel (Archibold) Reed and Gertrude (Davis) and Roy Dailey; sister and brother-in-law Phyllis and Russ Brandes; brother-in-law Ed Mattis and sister-in-law Pat McNeeley.
Allan leaves behind his wife Linda; his sisters Alyce Mattis, Lisa Jackson, both of Mount Ayr, Debbie Dodge & husband Bill of West Des Moines; nieces Arianna (Mike) Graham, Darcy (Frank) Hines and Jennifer Dodge; nephews Willy Dodge, David Dodge and Michael Dodge and four great nieces and nephews; Aunt Jo Parker and Uncle Jake Dailey; cousins and friends.
His loss will be felt by many.
A celebration of life was held 2 p.m. Saturday, November 8, 2025, at the Ringgold County Senior Activity Center in Mount Ayr. Memorials are designated for National Public Radio and the Ringgold County Senior Activity Center. Burial will take place at a later date. Armstrong Funeral Home in Mount Ayr was in charge of the arrangements.
