Tommy Reed

Mr. Tommy Reed, age 92, of Rossville, TN departed this life Friday evening, July 18, 2014 at his granddaughter's home in Nesbit, Mississippi.

The husband of Catherine Eugenia Cooksey Reed, who died in May of 1992, after 50 years of marriage, he was the owner of Reed Body Shop in Rossville, TN. He was born January 18, 1922 in Yorkville, son of the late Samual Egbert Reed and Elizabeth Taylor Reed and had lived in Memphis and Rossville prior to moving to Somerville 14 years ago. At his auto body shop he was the painter of many cars and worked as a mechanic. He was a member of Elliston Baptist Church for several years and Rutherford Baptist Church in his later years. He loved to sing bass and was a collector of cars. His passion for automobiles included being able to work on Elvis Presley's car and Bufford Pusser's car. He was a US Army veteran, serving for four years. His family states one of his greatest accomplishments was living to see five generations of his family and that he dearly loved his grandchildren.

Survivors include a daughter, Cathryn Louise Reed of Somerville; a sister, Janice Willis of Dyersburg; several nieces and nephews; four grandchildren, Wendelin (Jeffery) McClure, Lisa Carol (Brian) Meeks, Lorrie Dale Irvin and Cathy Leigh (Doug) Essary; and nine great grandchildren, Everette McClure, Shawana Osborn, Amanda Ingle, Thomas Irvin, Melissa Carol McClure, Greg McClure, Autumn Boren, Allison Essary and Alan Essary, Jr.; and 15 great great grandchildren. In addition to his parents and his wife, he was preceded in death by three brothers, R.L., Roger Dale and Carlos Reed; and two sisters, Louise Reed Williams and Emmaline Reed Smith. The family requests memorial donations be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.