David Duane Reed

David Duane Reed, 78, of Knoxville, TN, passed away on Sunday, July 5th after a battle with Leukemia. He was a member of Christ United Methodist Church. Born July 30, 1936, in Battle Creek, Michigan, he graduated from Battle Creek Central in 1955, where he played football and pitched for the baseball team. After graduation, he was selected to go to Africa as an Olympic Ambassador as one of two players from Michigan to represent U.S. baseball to other countries. Upon his return, he went to spring training with the Detroit Tigers as a pitcher. Following spring training, he went to play seven seasons for various minor league baseball teams where he was on the roster for the Idaho Falls Russets in 1956, the Durham Bulls in 1957, the Birmingham Barons in 1958 and 1959, the Victoria Rosebuds in 1960, the Knoxville Smokies in 1961 and the Hawaiian Islanders in 1962. He then moved to Knoxville and worked for Rohm and Haas, where he retired in 1998 after 35 years. He is preceded in death by his wife of 43 years Shirley Messenger Reed; parents Howard and Onda Reed; brother, Eugene Reed; sister, Louvelle Hall. Survivors include his daughter and son-in-law Lori and Nick Coffey of Knoxville, daughter Julie Biddinger of Charlotte, NC, sister and brother–in-law Gloria and Hubert Western of Hastings, Michigan; three granddaughters: Macey, Ashleigh and Kaylee Biddinger; brothers-in-laws and sisters-in-laws from Michigan: Ron and Jan VanHouten, Ron and Connie Messenger, Jim and Beverly Messenger, along with many nieces and nephews, cherished friends and his loving companion for the past seven years, Patsy Marcum. Pallbearers are Sammy Cox, Randy Marcum, Herkey Beeler, Chico Fernandez, Ralph Witt and Sonny Culver. The family will receive friends on Tuesday, July 7th from 6:00 – 8:00 PM in the chapel of Berry Lynnhurst Funeral Home. The Funeral Service will follow at 8:00 PM with Reverends John Jackson and Denny Humphries, officiating. Interment will be held on Wednesday, July 8th at 3:00 PM in Lynnhurst Memorial Park. Everyone is asked to assemble at the cemetery by 2:45 PM for the service. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society. Please visit www.berrylynnhurst.com to leave a condolence for the family.