|
OBITUARY
Clifton L. Reeder, former police officer, dies at 65
He ran plumbing firm after leaving Carrollton force
Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at Walnut Hill Church of
Christ, 10550 Marsh Lane in Dallas, for former Carrollton police officer
and plumbing company owner Clifton L. Reeder. A graveside service will
follow Wednesday afternoon at Ridgeview Memorial Park in McKinney.
Mr. Reeder, 65, died Sunday after collapsing at a luncheon at Walnut
Hill Church of Christ.
Born in McKinney, Mr. Reeder grew up on a dairy farm, where he developed
an incredible work ethic, said his daughter-in-law, Kathy Reeder of
Plano.
"He worked extremely hard," Mrs. Reeder said. "He didn't know any other
way."
As a child, Mr. Reeder had to milk the cows in time to meet the school
bus or face the prospect of working all day at the family dairy, she
said.
As an adult, Mr. Reeder "was generous to a fault," his daughter-in-law
said. "I don't care who it was or if he knew them or not, if they needed
money ... he always carried $100 bills in his pocket and would give them
out. This was when he wasn't so well off."
Mr. Reeder carried his principles throughout his five years in the
McKinney Police Department and 10 years on the force in Carrollton.
"He often worked two jobs," his daughter-in-law said. "He worked the
night shift on his regular patrol and took on extra duties [during the
day]."
In 1972, Mr. Reeder - a lieutenant at the time - left the
Carrollton Police Department
rather than accept a promotion to a desk job, Mrs. Reeder said.
He wanted to start a business, so over the next eight years he learned
plumbing and eventually became a master plumber. He founded Four Stars
Plumbing Co., which now has millions of dollars in annual sales, Mrs.
Reeder said.
About three years ago, Mr. Reeder sold the company to his family and
retired. It was a brief retirement.
"He couldn't stay away, so he came back and ran a separate part of the
business," his daughter-in-law said.
Mr. Reeder was an elder at Walnut Hill Church of Christ, where he was
known as the candy man because of the Tootsie Rolls and peppermints he
liked to hand out.
In addition to his daughter-in-law, Mr. Reeder is survived by his wife,
Peggy Reeder of Farmers Branch; a son, Tony Reeder of Plano; a daughter,
Tammy Hodges of Farmers Branch; his parents, Walter and Freddie Reeder
of McKinney; and four grandchildren.
Memorials can be made to Christ's Haven for Children, P.O. Box 467,
Keller, TX 76244.
|
Carrollton-Farmers
Branch TXGenWeb