Reed Doty Atkinson Obituary (1927 - 2019)

Reed Doty Atkinson, 92, Pleasant Grove passed away Sunday, June 2, 2019. He was born April 20, 1927 in Union, Utah to Robert William and Estella Ann Doty Atkinson. He was the fifth child of eight. He graduated from Jordan High School with the class of 1945. He left school a couple of months early to join the Merchant Marines where he served for a year and a half. At this time he read the Book of Mormon and gained his strong testimony. During his tour of duty he enjoyed being able to sail around the world. After the Merchant Marines he served a full time mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in the Western States Mission. He was a great missionary and touched the lives of many people mainly around John Day, Oregon. After his mission he returned to Great Falls, Montana. He went to a church dance where Billie Ann Smock was there with some friends. She spied Reed and then told her friend that he was the guy she was going to marry. Billie Ann was taught the gospel and was soon after baptized by Reed. They were married April 13, 1950 and spent their honeymoon traveling back to Utah with his family. Their marriage was later solemnized on April 14, 1951 in the Salt Lake Temple. They were blessed with three children: Kathleen Ann, Janet Diane and Richard Charles. In December 1965 they adopted a beautiful eight day old baby boy and named him David Reed. Reed and Billie Ann lived in Grant Falls for the first three years of their marriage. He learned many valuable life lessons in that time, among those was to be dependable and committed to your work. They returned to Sandy, Utah in 1953 where he worked with his father at Sunset Nursery. He later purchased the nursery from his father. He also worked for Mt Bell Telephone Co. as a janitor cleaning several offices in the area. He retired from Mt Bell after 25 years. His favorite job was being the Sandy City Water Master. With this job he got to ride his famous little red Honda 250 motorcycle. He carried a shovel with him strapped to the back of the motorcycle so that he could check the irrigation ditches early in the morning before work and then again in the evenings. His precious wife Billie Ann was called home April 9, 1985 and with that he began another chapter in his life. Three years later he met Virginia Joost Wooten. They were married June 24, 1988. Along with this marriage came some very interesting adventures. They served a mission from September 1990 to April 1992 in the South Africa Cape Town mission. They joined the Temple Riders Motorcycle Club and traveled on their Honda Goldwing to many places in the US. Including, Branson MO., Chicago, Ill., Boston, MA., New York, NY., and parts of Canada. Reed cared about serving his neighbors and friends. He always grew a garden and shared the fruits of his labors with others. Many friends woke up to their driveways already cleared of snow from Reeds handy work on his tractor. He was a stranger to no one. Always engaging everyone in conversation and learning their life history and who they were related to in a matter of minutes. Reed loved serving in the Temple. He served in the Provo Temple until the Mount Timpanogos temple was opened, after which he served there until November 2018. He was always stalwart and faithful in all of his church callings. He was a gentleman who always held Virginia's hand. He was a hardworking man who enjoyed good health for his entire life up until his last days even refusing to see a doctor if one was needed. For the last two years he has enjoyed his furry companion Gracie who brought him great joy and comfort. Reed is survived by his wife Virginia, his children: Kathleen Ann (Stephen) Matson, Janet Diane Whiting and David Reed Atkinson (Bobby) Smith, brother Gail Atkinson, nine grandchildren and thirteen great grandchildren. He is also survived by his seven step-children: Susie, Bob, Ann, Jan, Sabra, Carrie and Shauna. Forty step grandchildren and one hundred and forty three step great grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his first wife Billie Ann, his parents, son Richard Charles and six of his siblings. Funeral services will be held Saturday, June 8, 2019 at 11:00 a.m. in the Grove Creek Seventh Ward Chapel, 942 North 500 East, Pleasant Grove where family and friends may attend a viewing from 9:00 - 10:45 a.m. prior to the services. Interment will be in the Larkin Sunset Gardens, Sandy, Utah. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.olpinmortuary.com.