Catherine Ellis Reed

Catherine Donald Ellis Reed, 78, of Arab passed away Friday, February 7, 2025, at Shepherd’s Cove in Albertville. Mrs. Reed was born November 21, 1946, in Lexington, Mississippi, to Ruth Belford Donald and Robert Pearson Ellis, Jr. She graduated from Arab High School in 1965 and married classmate, Edwin Henry Reed, in December of 1966. She graduated from Auburn University in 1972 with a degree in education and taught home economics at Arab High School from 1973 to 1982. She enjoyed teaching students essential life skills such as sewing, cooking and money management. After retiring from teaching, she worked as a bookkeeper for many years at The Arab Tribune, the family newspaper she and her husband owned from 1970 to 2023. Mrs. Reed loved spending time with her family and was a devoted mother and “Yia Yia” as she was known after becoming a grandmother. She also enjoyed researching genealogy with her sister, Susan, and amassed a large collection of books containing photographs and other historical documents to pass down to not only her immediate family but to extended family as well. Another of her loves was traveling. Mrs. Reed traveled the globe for a number of years, visiting more than 40 countries and almost every state in the United States. She also remained active with the AHS Class of 1965 in helping plan reunions and enjoyed attending the group’s monthly luncheons at Grumpy’s in Arab. She was a member of the Episcopal Church of the Epiphany in Guntersville. Mrs. Reed was preceded in death by her parents; son-in-law, Joey Yarbrough; brother-in-law, Jeff Reed; and niece, Karen Beeler. In addition to her husband, Ed, Mrs. Reed is survived by her two daughters: Stephanie Reed Yarbrough of Arab and Lezlie Reed-Johnson (Marc) of Guntersville; sister, Susan Purdom (Wayne) of California; six grandchildren: Reed Yarbrough and Ellis Yarbrough of Arab and John Wesson Johnson, James Ed Johnson, Ellie Johnson and Millie Johnson, all of Guntersville; one great-grandchild: Mary-Alice Yarbrough; and a host of in-laws, nieces and nephews. A graveside service is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. Saturday, February 15, 2025, at Arab Memorial Cemetery with the Rev. Bob Blackwell officiating and Arab Heritage Memorial Chapel directing. Pallbearers will be Marc Johnson, John Wesson Johnson, James Ed Johnson, Reed Yarbrough and Tyler Bleau. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Shepherd’s Cove, Hospice of Marshall County, at shepherdscove.org or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital at stjude.org.

Catherine Ellis Reed

November 21, 1946 - February 7, 2025