Obituary: Reed, Brian Leon
Age 65
Brian was born June 2 in LaGrande, Oregon to Hanford Reed and Hazel (Reed) Wing.
He was raised and educated in Elgin Oregon.
Brian grew up deeply involved in athletics and played football and basketball through high school.
He had the honor of playing football in the East West Shrine game of which they won the championship.
He was a hunter and fisherman from childhood to his death.
Even at the age of about six he would don his coon skin cap and armed with an air gun that shot ping pong balls he would trudge up to our aunt Mildred’s to check his trap lines for mice.
If you didn’t find him outside with his dog Butch, he would have strapped on his cap guns mounted the saddle that our mother put on the arm of our Davenport and ride and shoot while watching various programs like the Lone Ranger.
(Mom wouldn’t let him wear his spurs.)
While in high school Brian was a member of Husky Tracks (year book), Husky Howls (newspaper).
National Honor Society and naturally the football and basketball teams.
He graduated from Elgin High School on May 26th, 1966.
Brian moved on to college and studied, partied and hunted his way to graduation on June 5, 1971 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in general studies.
From that time on he moved around and held several different jobs until settling in Athol, Idaho.
He researched and studied products until his knowledge base was sufficient to begin blending on a trial basis often redoing the recipe many times after he had tried it out on himself.
He built his business, the Spice Shop, one step at a time and one loyal customer at time into what was very lucrative business with dozens of customers who depended on him to make the blends necessary for their business.
Brian was a hardworking man, with honesty and integrity and would take the time to help others.
His business was his whole life and he rarely took the time to enjoy the simple pleasures of life for himself.
He loved to play pool.
He played everywhere but his favorite place was Linger Longer Lounge in Spirit Lake.
I (sister) had been his partner a few times when he was playing for money while in college.
Of course I goofed up and then he would run the table.
Tisk Tisk.
His motorcycle was another love and he rode frequently in the summer and fall months.
One of his regular trips would be to Cruisers biker bar where he would eat tacos until he was stuffed.
Brian was involved in the Indian culture and their way of life.
He respected their love of the land and respect for nature.
He would always go to the Pow Wows in Spokane and Coeur d’Alene.
He had faith in the Great Spirit and I know he will be carried to the Great Spirit wrapped in the wings of the Eagle where his spirit will be free and the body whole again.
Although the Spice Shop was his first love, his dog Griff ran a very close second.
Griff was Brian’s best friend and went everywhere with him.
He trained him from a pup and was his hunting dog.
They made many trips hunting together with Griff pointing and retrieving and Brian shooting.
Their main focus was Pheasants and together they made many successful hunts.
I can tell you this because of all the pictures he had and the multitude of feathers in his home and the pheasants in the freezer.
Brian had many friends and I am sorry for their loss as well as our family.
I want to thank you all for the offers of help with anything and everything.
It means a lot to know you are out there and Brian will be loved and sorely missed.
Brian was preceded in death by his father, Handford H. Reed.
He is survived by his mother, Hazel Wing; brother, Handford Reed; sister, Patricia Reed; stepbrother and sister, Charlene Halfhide and Rod Wing.
He is also survived by his longtime friend, Norma Evanson.
There will be a very informal gathering of friends March 9th at Linger Longer Lounge, 6262 W. Maine Street, Spirit Lake, Idaho from 12:00 pm to 2:00pm.
www.yatesfuneralhomes.com