G. Michael Reed

Michael Reed, 81, died on October 5, 2023 in Fort Worth, Texas. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, October 11 from 11:00 am – 12:00 pm at Tippecanoe Memory Gardens Funeral Chapel, 3631 Morehouse Road, West Lafayette, Indiana. A celebration of life memorial service will follow at 12:00 pm at the chapel.

Mike was born in Lafayette, Indiana on April 18, 1942, to Homer U. and E. Alberta Reed. He grew up in Lafayette proudly graduating from Jefferson High School in 1960 and later from Purdue University in 1966.

Mike is survived by his two daughters, Kristin (Steven) Jackson of Bloomington, IL and Kara (Bill) Waddell of Fort Worth, TX and three grandsons, Spencer Jackson of Washington, DC, Ethan Waddell of College Station, TX, and Luke Waddell of Fort Worth, TX. He is also survived by his first wife, Devon Wilson Neise of Bloomington, IL, a niece and nephew in Lafayette, a sister-in-law in West Point, IN and a second wife Janet Eakins, San Diego, CA. His younger brother Gary, niece Kim, and both parents preceded him in death.

Mike started his career in corporate finance with National Homes Corporation in Lafayette (1966-1975). Relocating with his family to Lexington, IL,  Mike served in management with GROWMARK, Inc. (1975 -1988) in Bloomington, IL launching his specialization in agribusiness. A highlight of his career was founding and directing PHI Financial Services, Inc., a subsidiary of Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc., in Des Moines, Iowa in 1988. He served as President and Director of PHI Financial Services (later acquired by DuPont) until his retirement in 2002. Mike loved living in warm weather climates during his later years in California (Rancho Santa Fe and La Quinta), Florida (Hernando) and Texas (Fort Worth). Whether working in corporate America or at leisure in retirement , Mike was always known for being a sharp dresser.

As a boy, Mike and his family loved racing in a youth-oriented program called the Soap Box Derby. Mike remained involved as an adult serving as Director of the local derby in Lafayette (1964-1972). Later, he was proud to have founded National Derby Rallies (NDR), a nationwide derby program providing opportunities for racing in multiple rallies around the country culminating in an annual national championship. Mike served as the NDR Founder and President from 1977 to 1985. The organization remains active today, 46 years later. He was also an avid fan of college basketball filling out annual NCAA brackets, and cheering on basketball teams from his alma mater Purdue as well as Duke University. In his later years, he cheered on the University of Alabama football and enjoyed golf especially on the beautiful courses of southern California. Mike had fond memories of many years of international travel with Italy at the top of his list as he recalled with fondness the pleasure of sipping red wine on the Amalfi Coast.

Whether we knew him as Mike, Dad, or Grandpa, he will be missed. He was extremely proud of his grandsons and loved watching them mature into young men. We take comfort in knowing he is reunited with his parents and younger brother whom he has missed for many years. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his name to the James L West Center for Dementia or Child Care Associates, both in Fort Worth, TX.