Clay Reed Obituary (1952 - 2020) - Russellville, Arkansas

Clay Reed, 68, of Russellville, was escorted to Heaven by God's ministering angels on Thursday, August 13, 2020. He is the loving husband of Candy Reed and the son of Stanley and Dixie (Archer) Reed. Clay was born on March 11, 1952, in Waco, TX. He loved growing up in Texas and had many friends in Waco. At an early age, Clay developed his faith with the help of his maternal grandparents and his mother. Clay would continue to develop his faith and study God's word throughout his life. Clay developed his work ethic by watching his father work hard to provide for his family, which Clay did, just as his father taught him. Clay was a loving sibling to his brother Bruce and his sister Darlene. In 1971, Clay proudly enlisted in the United States Navy. He served in the nuclear navy aboard the ballistic missile submarine USS Von Steuben. He also served aboard the fleet oiler USS Nantahala and sub-tender USS Hunley. During training, he was stationed in upstate New York where he met the love of his life, Candy Boggs, at church. In 1975, Clay and Candy married and began their life together, and in 1976 they welcomed a son, Trey. Throughout the demands of Navy duty, Clay remained committed to his God and family. After 6 years of defending our great nation, Clay decided to head in a different direction and enroll at the Northeast School of Biblical Studies in Clifton Park, NY, where he learned to preach the Word of God. While in school, Clay and Candy welcomed their second son, Barry, in 1978. After completing his studies in 1980, he received an offer to work at Arkansas Nuclear One in Russellville, where he worked for 30-plus years. Clay continued his ministry of preaching and teaching the Word of God for the rest of his life. During his 40 years in Russellville, Clay was a longtime member of the West Side church of Christ, serving as a Sunday school teacher and preacher when needed. He also had the honor to serve the Lord's church as a Deacon and later as a Shepherd. Clay lived his life with one thing in mind, living a life for Christ. He lived by example and had a quiet demeanor that showed many what a love for God looked like. Clay was not one to talk just to talk; when Clay talked, people listened. Clay poured his heart into loving Candy, showing his boys how a Christian man is supposed to treat his wife, and how to live for God. Simply put, Clay's family was his pride and joy. In the early 2000's, Clay and Candy became grandparents and Clay assumed the title of Papaw, just as his father, Stanley, did with his grandchildren. Clay loved being a grandpa and he would talk, play and enjoy being in the presence of his 5 grandchildren. Everyone who met Clay loved him. He treated everyone with respect and showed everyone the love of God. During his 30-plus years at ANO, he developed many friendships that continued even after retirement. He fought two courageous battles with cancer and won both times. For the first battle he was rewarded with a cure. For the 2nd battle he was rewarded with a home in Heaven's mansions and was reunited with many relatives and friends who went on before him. He was perseverant, fighting to the very end. Clay passed from this life in the same manner in which he lived...quietly. Clay is survived by his wife of 45 years, Candy, along with his sons, Trey, and wife Angie of Sherwood, AR, and Barry of De Queen, AR. He is also survived by his 5 grandchildren, Abigail and Bennett Reed of Sherwood and Noah, Luke, and Ethan Reed of De Queen. He is also survived by his parents, Stanley and Dixie Reed of Waco, TX; brother, Bruce Reed and sister-in-law Linda of College Station, TX; a sister, Darlene Davidson and brother-in-law Steve of Waco, TX; a brother-in-law Jerry Boggs and sister-in-law Judie Boggs of Delran, NJ. Clay is also survived by a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and special friends. A private celebration of life conducted by Tim Tripp, minister of West Side church of Christ, and his boys, Trey and Barry, will take place at 1:30pm, August 21, 2020, and will be available for viewing by the public on the Humphrey Funeral Service Facebook page. A public committal service in appreciation of Clay's life and service to our country will be held at 3:00pm, August 21, 2020 at the River Valley Veterans Memorial Park, 395 Lakefront Drive in Russellville. Honors will be rendered by the United States Navy and members of the Lake Dardanelle Detachment, #1310 of the United States Marine Corp League. All attendees will be required to follow CDC and Arkansas Department of Heath guidelines, as well as the Governor's mandates in regards to wearing a mask. Interment will take place at a later date in the Veterans Section at Center Valley Memorial Gardens. Pallbearers will be his grandchildren, Abigail, Bennett, Noah, Luke and Ethan. Honorary Pallbearers include Danny Jarra, a fellow Navy veteran and ANO colleague with whom Clay had a unique connection of the heart; "adopted" grandchildren Tristan and Lainey Jarra and Ben, Hope, and Lydia Baker; and former colleagues and friends from Arkansas Nuclear One. The family wishes to express their deep appreciation and thanks to Dr. Thomas Sneed of CARTI and Dr. Darrell Speed of Russellville, who cared for Clay with tenacity and dignity. In Lieu of Flowers, memorials may be made to Camp Caudle, www.campcaudle.org/donate, 857 SR 164 N, Hector, AR 72843; CARTI, online at https://carti.ejoinme.org/donate; or plant a tree in Clay's memory https://www.humphreyfuneral.com/obituary/Clay-Reed/1071511/memorial-tree. LINK TO - Military Honors at River Valley Veterans Memorial Park