HARLAN V. “JOE” REEL, 65

Former Washington County resident, Harlan V. Reel, 65, of Fremont, died Saturday, July 8, 2006, at the Fremont Area Medical Center.

Funeral services were Wednesday, July 12, at the Fremont Alliance Church. Interment with military honors was at the Ridge Cemetery.

Harland V. “Joe” Reel was born Jan. 15, 1941, in Porum, Okla., to Bill and Augustine (Reaves) Reel. He grew up in Kern County, Calif., and graduated from Shafter (Calif.) High School.

In 1958, he joined the United States Army, and served as a medic. He was discharged in 1962, and then served two tours of duty in the Army Reserve.

On Dec. 23, 1958, he married Eleanor J. “Jody” Taulbee.

He returned to Shafter and worked for area farmers. The couple then moved to the Bay area of California, where for 30 years, Mr. Reel operated his own construction company, mostly involving residential construction and custom remodeling. The Reels also lived in So. Lake Tahoe, Calif., for 10 years, before moving to Fontanelle in 2004.

He is survived by his wife, Jody; two daughters and sons-in-law, Cherri and Scott Peters and Jody and Mike Murphy, all of Sacramento; son and daughter-in-law, Vincent and Samone Reel of Santa Rose, Calif.; five grandchildren; four sisters and a brother-in-law, Nellie and Leo Cummings of Holt, Okla.; Caudie Brown and Cathy Butler, both of Stigler, Okla., and Sandy Phillips of Ontario, Calif.; three brothers and sisters-in-law, Leroy and Jackie Reel of Bullhead, Ariz., Ronald Reel of Ontario, Calif., and Donald and Linda Reel of Oakley, Calif.

Ludvigsen Mortuary in Fremont was in charge of arrangements.