Lee Ellis Reed

Lee Ellis Reed, 84, of Driftwood, Texas, passed away on January 19, 2026. He was born on October 8, 1941, in LaHarpe, Illinois, to Ruth and Floyd Reed.

Lee was, above all, a good man — steady, generous, hardworking, and deeply loyal. He loved his wife, Lynn Reed, with whom he shared 60 years of marriage, a life built on devotion, laughter, and partnership. To know Lee was to know someone who showed up for his family, his friends, and anyone who needed a helping hand.

He grew up in Carthage, Illinois, where his lifelong love of cars began. A Chevrolet man to the core, Lee never owned another car brand. In his younger years, he enjoyed drag racing and was active in a Corvette club in Quincy, Illinois. After graduating from Carthage High School, he attended the University of Iowa for two years before beginning his career as a lineman in Quincy.

On New Year’s Day 1980, Lee moved his family to Austin, Texas, bringing with him Lynn and their two sons, Lance and Lane. Austin quickly became home, and over the next four decades, Lee and Lynn built a close-knit community of friends who became like family. Lifelong friendships—especially with Bobby Maxa, Sandy & Gary Hale, John Whittenbaugh, David Maxa, Martin Moody, Betty Ann Veselka, MLiss & Jim Willman, Connie & Huey McBride, GayLynn & Trey Wilson — brought Lee years of laughter, loyalty, support and shared memories.

Lee worked as a lineman for the City of Austin for 25 years, earning the respect of coworkers through his strong work ethic and quiet reliability. After retiring, he continued doing meaningful work, spending time at a hearing and service dog training center—an experience that combined his love of dogs with his desire to be useful and give back.

A true craftsman, Lee could build or fix just about anything. His car barn was his happy place, where he spent countless hours working on his prized vehicles: a 1969 Camaro, a 1967 Corvette, and a 1987 step-side Chevy pickup—all painted race car red, naturally. He loved classic car shows, took great pride in his home, and believed in doing things right with his own two hands.

As a father, Lee was fully present—volunteering as a soccer coach and never missing a single game. As a grandfather, he was a devoted fan of Nash, Jozy, and Hudson, cheering them on in swimming, volleyball, basketball, soccer, and rodeo. Family gatherings were filled with good food, stories, and humor. Affectionately, Lee was known as “The Wanderer,” as he had a knack for getting lost on beach vacations, a trait that only added to the stories everyone loved to tell.

Lee was fun-loving, kind, and unfailingly generous. He was a loyal friend, quick with a laugh, and always ready to enjoy a cold beer in good company. He leaves behind not only memories, but a legacy of friendship, craftsmanship, and quiet goodness.

Lee was preceded in death by his parents, Ruth and Floyd Reed; his sister, Dorothy Elizabeth Chaplain; and his in-laws, Barb and Loren Surprenant.

He is survived by his beloved wife, Lynn Reed; his sons, Lance Reed and Lane Reed (Shelley); his grandchildren, Nash, Jozy, and Hudson; his brother-in-law, John Chaplain; his brother and sister-in-law, Susie and Craig Surprenant; his cousin, Clinton Reed; and many nieces and nephews in Louisiana, Illinois, and Iowa.

A celebration of Lee’s life will be held on Saturday, March 28, 2026, at 12:00 p.m. at the Reed home, 1701 Woods Loop, Driftwood, Texas 78619. Lee will be cremated, and his ashes will be spread on the family property behind his beloved car barn.

In lieu of flowers, cards of condolences may be mailed to Lynn Reed. Memorial donations may be made in Lee’s name to Freedom Canines at freedomcanines.org for Pups Empowering People.

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