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Jim Reed

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Jim Reed was born in Kansas City on June 11, 1955, to Vernon and Grace Reed. He started pursuing his interests in the arts at a young age, and became even more inspired after one of his teachers encouraged him. That made all the difference. For the rest of his life, he centered himself around creating art. He became a talented painter, sculptor and potter. He studied Fine Arts at Pittsburg State University where he received a B.A. and an M.A. His work has been on exhibit in several galleries in Kansas, Santa Fe, New Mexico and Eureka Springs, Arkansas. There are also a variety of private collections in the homes of his friends, family and patrons, and each beautiful piece he created is cherished by those who loved him and admired his work. Besides being a studio artist, Jim was also a teacher. Hundreds of school children in Southeast Kansas have fond memories of Mr. Reed coming to their classrooms and introducing them to drawing techniques, watercolors and working with clay. He also taught ceramics at PSU for several years. 

Jim loved immersing himself in nature, which was a major inspiration for his art. He spent endless hours in the woods of rural Kansas studying and drawing all kinds of birds. He built his own free form cabin, constructed a workshop and established a big garden. Jim treated everyone with love and respect and set an example for us all on how to be a good human. 

Jim Reed passed away on Jan. 7, 2025. He is preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Sherry. 

Jim was a loving brother, father, stepfather and grandfather who will be greatly missed by his family: John Reed, Rolland Reed, Madeline Lockhart, Christopher Landwehr, Eli Green, Muriel Green, Holly Swigart, Orson, Malcolm, Zeke, Alaric, Livinia, and O'Cyrus.