William Springer Reeds

William S. “Bill” Reeds was born September 13, 1947 in Tulsa, Oklahoma, to Arthur Carl Reeds and Betty Jane Springer Reeds. He passed away on Saturday, March 16, 2024, after a valiant fight with cancer, but not without leaving everyone he knew with countless memories, stories, and high jinks. Bill was reared and educated in Tulsa and graduated with the Edison High School Class of 1965. He was a veteran of the armed forces having served his country honorably with the United States Navy during the Vietnam War. Bill was married October 27, 1973, in Tulsa to Ellen Orthwein. Bill was the consummate western gentleman. No one loved being in the horse and cattle business more than he. He joined the Los Rancheros Visitadores in 1978 and was proud to belong to this historical riding fraternity established in 1930 in Santa Barbara County. He was full of life – one well lived in devotion to his country and his family. The Reeds families have been involved in Oklahoma agriculture since the 1870’s, homesteading there during the Land Run of 1889 in the Norman and Newcastle area. After his military service, he worked out west for the Arizona Land and Cattle Company in Nevada and Colorado. After he and Ellen were married they moved out to Oregon and California with Bill furthering his career in the cattle business. In the mid 1970’s, an opportunity brought the Reeds back to Oklahoma where they put together a significant ranch property in the Flint Hills region of Osage County in north central Oklahoma. The Chapman and Barnard Ranch, established in 1914, was the largest contiguous native grass ranch in America’s Tall Grass Prairie Region. This is cattle country, some of the best in the nation and the Reeds, with their two children Mary and Phillip, had control of the ranch from 1981-1993. As Bill often said, “I could not have accomplished half of what we did on that ranch without Ellen at my side.” They left the ranch after the Nature Conservancy succeeded in taking it over as a preserve. The family moved to a smaller ranch near Springer, Oklahoma, north of Ardmore, tucked below the foothills of the Arbuckle Mountains, and as Bill loved to tell, “It’s the oldest mountain range in North America, there’s granite there that’s 1 ½ billion years old!” But tragedy would strike the Reeds family when his son Phillip was involved as a passenger in an auto accident that would leave him with severe brain trauma. He survived and the Reeds focused on what was best for their family and especially Phillip and with that, they would have to move, so the Ardmore ranch was sold. The family came to the Santa Ynez Valley in California again in search of the best, ongoing care for Philip. In the twenty-five years since the accident, Bill and Ellen devoted themselves to their family, ultimately moving back to Oklahoma recently to have the entire family nearby. Bill remained optimistic, as he described in his own words, “I am an eternal optimist, you have to be if you spend your life in agriculture and ask your family to be a part of it as well.” Bill Reeds was the real deal. He was a friend to all and a true giver. He will be greatly missed. Those he leaves behind who hold many cherished memories include: Wife; Ellen, with whom he was proud to have celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary Children; Mary Reeds and Phillip Reeds Grandchildren; Malia, Makoa, and Ryan Brother; Duke Reeds and his wife Phyllis Sister; Susan Murray and her husband Mike Brother; Jeff Reeds And a host of extended family and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents. Arrangements and services were entrusted to Mowery Funeral Service of Owasso. www.moweryfs.com

William Springer Reeds

September 13, 1947 - March 16, 2024