Our beloved mother, Corinne Delinne Reed, passed away on Oct. 20, 2020, at the age of 86. She was born to Adelard Joseph Côté and Dorothy Lucille Gilkey Côté on April 17, 1934, in Spokane, Wash. She grew up in Spokane with one younger sister, Yvonne “Joanne,” now living in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
Corinne attended Saint Joseph Grade School and Holy Names Academy (both in Spokane), graduating in 1952. In January 1953, she married Harry Thomas Reed from Otis Orchards, Wash. Together they raised their family of 12 children. Summers were spent on family road trips, camping, picking berries and going to lakes, and Corinne relished pitching tents, making pancakes and hiking. Together the couple showed their kids dams, waterways, mountains and parks in Washington, Idaho, Oregon and California. Winters were spent snow sledding, ice skating, sewing gifts and baking for holidays.
Corinne, an experienced Girl Scout, served as a Brownie, Girl Scout, Camp Fire and Cub Scout leader. She really knew how to pack scout meetings with fun. Corinne was honored as the Inland Empire Mother of the Year in 1968 and was showered with gifts from local businesses, was a guest of honor at a dinner and featured in an article in the Spokesman Review.
In 1969, Corinne and Tom moved to Oak Harbor, Wash., mesmerized by Whidbey Island and the community. At St. Augustine Church, Corinne enjoyed teaching the First Communion Class for many years. She was active in Altar Society, cooked at church dinners and crafted various items for bazaars. In the late 1970s, she became the distributor for the Seattle Post-Intelligencer and Seattle Times for North Whidbey. Corinne trained paperboys and drivers, delivered papers to routes and filled newspaper machines. Tom soon partnered with her in the business. Many paperboys recognized her years later and stopped by to reminisce with her of their “first job” memories.
Corinne leaves behind her children, Juanita Robinett (Martin), Corinne Reed-Watt (Steve), Teresa McKenrick (Larry), Rolland Reed (Beverly), Raymond Reed, Annette Dotlich, Russel Reed (Hong), Randal Reed (Lori), Ada Lornson (Mason), and Kathleen Reed; 32 grandchildren; 58 great-grandchildren; and seven great-great grandchildren; as well as her sister Joanne Leppky (John); nieces Terri, Joelle, Sandy and Kim; and many other nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Joseph and Dorothy Cote; husband Tom; son Robert (Bob); and daughter Cynthia.
Corinne loved being grandma, great- and great-great grandma, as well as auntie, showering everyone with wonderful memories, each believing they were the most special. Corinne impacted many lives and will be sorely missed.
Reed
