Helen Mae Reed

Helen P. Reed, 96 of Moberly passed away May 11, 2024. Helen Mae was born March 13, 1928 to Ray Patton and Ethel Mae (Lemley) Pennell on the family farm in Trenton, (Grundy County), Missouri. She graduated from Trenton High School in 1945. In 1950 she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education from the University of Missouri – Columbia.  From there she taught music in Eldon and Macon Schools. It was in Macon she met and married Joseph Willard (J.W.) Reed on March 31, 1956. They were married 42 years. The newly married couple then moved to Moberly where Helen taught in the Moberly Public Schools from 1963 to 1967. Later she taught music in the Madison Public School System.  

Helen was very dedicated and active in the Moberly Music Club and the Missouri Federation of Music Clubs where she held the offices of President.  The Music Club had an important role in the celebration of Moberly’s Centennial in 1966. For many years she was very involved in the Inspiration Point Fine Arts Colony (IPFAC) in Eureka Springs, Arkansas.  She was the recipient of many awards for her service to IPFAC. She also participated in local clubs such as Sorosis, Retired Teachers Association and was a member of the Moberly Country Club.

Helen was preceded in death by her parents, husband, one brother, Linus Pennell and sister-in-law Lucille, and one sister, Betty Pennell.

Helen is survived by 3 daughters, Pamela and her spouse John Stahl, Cheltenham, Maryland, Patrice and her spouse Michael Bailey, Moberly, Missouri and Johanna and her spouse Kelly Adams, Moberly, Missouri. She leaves 4 grandchildren, Rebecca (Stahl) and her spouse Rob Myers and 2 great grandsons, Noll and Brody Myers of Damascus, Maryland; Jared and his spouse Melissa Stahl and 1 great grandson, Matthew of Palo Alto, California; Megan (Bailey) and her spouse Tony Mora and 3 great grandchildren, Bailey Mora, Kemper Mora and Pennell Mora of Foresthill, California; and Lance and his spouse Leslie Bailey and 2 great granddaughters, Katelyn and Kristin, Moberly, Missouri.  She also leaves several nieces and nephews.

Donations in her memory may be made to Huntsville Christian Church, 105 E. Elm St., Huntsville, Missouri 65259.

Words of comfort and support may be shared with the family at a visitation from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, May 15, 2024, followed by a funeral service at 11:30 a.m. at the Pathway-Millard Family Funeral Chapel at 411 Union Avenue, Moberly, Missouri.

Burial will take place in Grundy Center Methodist Church Cemetery in rural Trenton, Missouri.