Mae E. Reeder

Mae E. Reeder OGDEN – Mae Eckersley Reeder died at her home on Thursday, September 6, 2007, surrounded by the love of her family. She was 94 years old, having been born to Thomas and Isabel Eckersley on May 1, 1913. Mae’s passing leaves a legacy of unconditional love, and dedication to family and community. She demonstrated by her example what one can do in life when focusing on joy and gratitude. Mae Reeder had a unique ability to let each person in her life know how special they were. She was unselfish, placing other people before her needs, yet very strong in her convictions of the worth of each individual. Her life was lived to help others without expectations or conditions. Her family was the source of her greatest joy. Born and raised in Ogden, she married Frank W. Reeder in 1934. He was a former Ogden City Police Detective who died in 1981. Mae and Frank shared a deep and everlasting love. They had three children, Carol Naylin and Judy Kihlstrom, both of Ogden; and Alan F. Reeder, Eugene, OR. At the last count, she had 10 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren and 12 great-great-grandchildren. Mae was employed at the old J.C. Penney store in downtown Ogden for 35 years, retiring in 1978 where she was in charge of sales auditing, payroll and personnel. Community service was a valued part of Mae Reeder’s life. Involvement included the Appointment to the Utah State Board of Mental Heath by Governor Rampton in 1967. In that capacity, she participated in decentralizing the Utah Mental Hospitals and bringing patients back into the community. This included the establishment of comprehensive mental health centers throughout the state. In 1970, Mae Reeder was involved in the establishment of the Weber County Mental Health Center. Mae served on the Utah State Mental Health Board for 11 years and the Weber County Mental Health Board for an additional 11 years, where she was Chairperson. Additional involvements included Chairperson of the Weber County Human Services Planning Committee, Weber County Mental Health Non-profit Board, the National Mental Health Association, Child Culture Club of Ogden, Weber County Women’s Legislative Council, and the Weber County Senior Legislative Committee. Additional community services activities included: member of Weber and Morgan County Council on Aging, Director of State of Utah Senior Legislative Inc., State of Utah Women’s Legislative Council, Director of Weber County Women’s Legislative Council, President of Ogden City Police Benefit Association, Lorin Farr School PTA President, Ogden City PTA Board, Director of Weber County AARP Committee, Utah Democratic Central Committee and Weber County Democratic Central Committee Chairperson. Mae was the recipient of the Weber County Sawbuck, Bicentennial Year Outstanding Democrat in 1976, the Gunn McKay Integrity in Government Foundation, Lifetime Service Award in 2007, and interestingly, Mae was once the Utah State Target Pistol Shooting Champion. Mae’s church activities in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints included Visiting Teacher Coordinator, Primary President and Compassionate Service Leader. Mae was preceded in death by her husband Frank, brother Jack Eckersley, sister Ethel Firth, grandsons Randy Naylin and Robert Kihlstrom, and great-grandson Nathan Kihlstrom. Funeral services will be held Wednesday at 11 a.m. at Lindquist’s Ogden Mortuary, 3408 Washington Blvd. Friends may call at the mortuary on Tuesday from 6 to 8 p.m. and Wednesday from 9:45 to 10:45 a.m. Interment, Ogden City Cemetery. Email condolences to the family at: www.lindquistmortuary.com