The Anchor of Our Tree: James Curtis Reed at 97
The Anchor of Our Tree: James Curtis Reed at 97
Born in Noblesville, Indiana in 1929, our living patriarch marks 97 years of life today. His journey through Navy service, a 50-year marriage, and four generations of descendants stands as the steady foundation of the Reed family.
"The gray head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness." Proverbs 16:31
On August 1, 1929, in Noblesville, Indiana, Ruby Pearl Reed and Geraldine Minerva Bassett welcomed their second child into the world, a son they named James Curtis Reed. That summer, the world stood on the edge of the Great Depression. Nobody in Hamilton County could have foreseen the full sweep of the twentieth century that lay ahead, nor could they have guessed how far this child's name and legacy would reach. Today, as James Curtis Reed celebrates his 97th birthday, he stands as the living patriarch of our family, a man whose life has quietly anchored four generations through nearly a century of change.
To look at the life of James Curtis Reed is to read the story of our family in its purest form. He is the eldest living child of Ruby Pearl Reed, the brother who watched our family move from small-town Indiana roots to Michigan factories, the young sailor who wore the navy uniform in the late 1940s, the husband who built a 50-year covenant with Mary Celia Bow, and the father whose name continues to echo in his sons, grandsons, and great-grandsons.
Indiana Roots and Service to the Nation
Growing up in Noblesville during the 1930s, James Curtis was shaped by the steady, hard-working values of his parents. His father, Ruby Pearl Reed, worked to support a growing household that would eventually count eleven children. In an era when resources were tight and extended family was the primary safety net, young Curtis learned early on that family members looked out for one another.
He was just twelve years old when the United States entered World War II following Pearl Harbor in December 1941. By the time the war ended and the nation began rebuilding, Curtis was a young man ready to step out into the world. In 1947, at eighteen years old, he made a decision that would expand his horizons far beyond Hamilton County: he enlisted in the United States Navy.
His military service took him from Great Lakes, Illinois to the Pacific Northwest. By 1950, federal records place him stationed at the U.S. Naval Air Station Seaplane Base in Oak Harbor, Washington, on Whidbey Island. Serving his country as a young Black sailor in the late 1940s required quiet discipline and self-reliance, qualities that would define his character for the rest of his life.
A 50-Year Covenant: Mary Celia Bow
Before leaving for his naval assignment in the Pacific Northwest, James Curtis married the love of his life. On July 30, 1949, he wed Mary Celia Bow (1929–1999), daughter of a deeply rooted Ypsilanti family. Their marriage would become one of the foundational pillars of our family tree, lasting exactly fifty years until Mary Celia’s passing in October 1999.
Together, Jim and Celia built a home that stretched from naval housing in Washington State back to Washtenaw County, Michigan, where they eventually settled to raise their six children:
- Nolan Lamont Reed (b. 1950) — Born at the naval base in Oak Harbor, Washington.
- Curtis Dewaine Reed (b. 1951) — Born in Bremerton, Washington.
- Gerald Eugene Reed (b. 1954) — Born in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
- Gloria Cecila Reed (b. 1956) — Born in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
- Nancy Colleen Reed (b. 1962) — Born in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
- Michael Ray Foster Sr. (b. 1966) — Joining the family in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Their fifty-year union represents one of eleven "Golden Marriages" recorded in our family history, serving as a living blueprint of devotion and endurance for their children and grandchildren.
The Five-Generation "Curtis" Dynasty
One of the most remarkable aspects of James Curtis Reed's legacy is the direct patrilineal thread he established. In our family, passing down a name is an intentional act of honor, and no name has carried forward with greater continuity than "Curtis."
The Five-Generation Curtis Lineage
Father-to-son naming sequence spanning 1929 to the present day
| Generation | Name | Birth & Location | Patrilineal Relation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Generation 4 | James Curtis Reed | Aug 1, 1929 • Noblesville, IN | Patriarch & Founder |
| Generation 5 | Curtis Dewaine Reed | Sep 4, 1951 • Bremerton, WA | Son |
| Generation 6 | Curtis Tyrone Reed | Dec 10, 1973 • Ann Arbor, MI | Grandson |
| Generation 7 | Curtis Tyler Reed | Jul 22, 1996 • Ann Arbor, MI | Great-Grandson |
| Generation 8 | Curtis Ayden Reed | Jul 27, 2021 • Largo, FL | Great-Great-Grandson |
To see a single name carried intact from a Navy veteran born in 1929 down to a young man born in 2021 is a powerful reminder of how our family keeps its story alive across generations.
Eldest of an Extraordinary Sibling Group
James Curtis Reed is not standing alone in his longevity. He is the eldest surviving sibling of a remarkable group of brothers and sisters. Out of the eleven children born to Ruby Pearl Reed and Geraldine Bassett, seven are alive today, ranging in age from 80 to 97 years old.
The Sibling Cohort of Ruby Pearl Reed & Geraldine Bassett
Honoring the living elders and remembering those who have passed
| Sibling Name | Birth & Passing | Lifespan / Age | Status & Heritage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Norman Reed | 1928 – 1928 | Infant | Firstborn (In Loving Memory) |
| James Curtis Reed | Born August 1, 1929 | 97 Years | Living Patriarch ("Jimmy") |
| Phyllis Reed (Williams) | Born June 3, 1931 | ~95 Years | Living Sister |
| Raymond Reed | Born abt 1933 | ~93 Years | Living Brother |
| Marva J. Reed (Davis) | Born abt 1936 | ~90 Years | Living Sister |
| Robert Reed | Born May 1938 | ~88 Years | Living Brother |
| John Allen Reed | 1940 – 1950 | 10 Years | Beloved Brother (Passed Young) |
| Donna Reed (Wilson) | Born November 12, 1941 | ~84 Years | Living Sister |
| Larry Reed | 1943 – 2018 | 74 Years | Brother (In Loving Memory) |
| Linda Reed (Holmes) | Born September 17, 1945 | ~80 Years | Living Sister |
| Frederick Reed Sr. | 1949 – 2016 | 67 Years | Brother (In Loving Memory) |
| Karen Reed | Deceased | — | Sister (In Loving Memory) |
Together, these seven brothers and sisters carry nearly 630 combined years of living memory, wisdom, and family history. Their presence gives our entire extended family a direct connection to our midwest roots and early migrations.
A Tree That Keeps Growing
Today, the tree planted by James Curtis Reed and Mary Celia Bow has expanded into a vast canopy of grandchildren and great-grandchildren. From his eldest son Nolan Lamont Reed down to recent arrivals like Elijah Harris (b. 2022), Alina Celia Reed (b. 2023), and Brooklyn Reed (b. 2025), his bloodline continues to thrive across Michigan, Minnesota, Washington DC, Pennsylvania, Florida, and beyond.
When we celebrate a 97th birthday, we are doing more than marking a number on a calendar. We are giving thanks for a man who did the quiet, steady work of being a faithful son, a disciplined sailor, a devoted husband, a loving father, and a wise elder. He showed us what it looks like to stay the course through every season of life.
Happy 97th Birthday to our patriarch, James Curtis Reed. May God continue to bless you, protect you, and grant you peace as you wear the crown of your years among us.
