SOUTH PARIS – John H. Reed, 77, of South Paris, passed away suddenly at his home on Sunday, May 2, 2021.

John was born in Portland on Nov. 26, 1943, the son of Harold and Vellie (Gilman) Reed. After graduation from Frye- burg Academy, he enlisted in the United States Army. After completing basic training at Ft. Dix, N.J., he was stationed with the 50th Eng. Co. U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., before being sent to Vietnam. After returning from Vietnam, he started cooking at his family-owned Blacksmith coffee shop, later working for area restaurants before retiring from Friendly’s in North Conway as assistant manager.

John was a member of Fryeburg-Lovell VFW Post 6783. He loved fishing, hunting, gardening, and the outdoors. He was a collector of guns, coins, and baseball cards. His greatest enjoyment was spending time with his family.

John is survived by his partner of 20-plus years Roberta Dailey; his children Mickey Reed, Renee Shanks, John Reed and his wife Kimberly, Roberta’s children Matthew Dailey and his wife Caitlin, and Michael Dailey and his partner Jo-Linn Townsend-Tibbets; his grandchildren Jaimelyne Shanks-Gustafson and her husband Chris, Casey Shanks, Audrey Reed, Madelyne Reed, and Emelia Reed; Roberta’s grandchildren Stephen, Liam, Connor, Ashlynn, and Everett whom John especially enjoyed and spent a great deal of time with, and his great grandchildren, Cartur and Brielle Gustafson, his sisters Sandra Reed, and Joanne Reed, a brother Jimmy Reed and his wife Debbie, as well as many nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by his parents Harold and Vellie

Visitation with Military Honors will be held at Wood Funeral Home, 9 Warren Street, Fryeburg, on Thursday, May 13, 2021, from 2 to 4 p.m. To share online memories and condolences with the family please go www.woodfuneralhome.org. Arrangements are under the care of Wood Funeral Home.