John W. Reed, a longtime resident of the Springfield area, passed away August 21, 2015 at his new home in Luther, Oklahoma, after a battle with cancer. He was 79.

John was born May 6, 1936 in Springfield to George R. and Ruth D. Reed. He was the retired owner of a successful coupon book business. Early in his career, he held a variety of other jobs, but the one he loved most was a six-year stint as a dining car steward on the Frisco Railroad. He was 19 years old and a student at Drury College when he was recruited for that job, the youngest steward the railroad had ever hired. He maintained his interest in dining cars throughout his life, and had a large collection of china, silver, and other memorabilia. He even purchased a former Frisco dining car, moved it to a lot near his home in Republic, and partially restored it. His crowning achievement was the publication of his book, Nothing Could Be Finer Than a Frisco Diner, in 2012.

John also had another major passion that carried into his later years – Missouri State University football. For several years he attended every game, home and away. He drove to most of those games, but in October 2009 he flew to Fargo, North Dakota on the team’s charter plane and was awarded the game ball by Coach Terry Allen. At that point, he had attended 127 of the Bears last 128 games.

His passion for dining cars and Bears football was exceeded only by his love for his family.

He is survived by two daughters, Elaine Smith of Nixa, and Candece (Kelly) Swisher of Luther, Oklahoma; a stepson, Daniel Spann of Springfield; a brother Tom (Elaine) Reed of North Olmsted, Ohio; and six grandchildren: Jonathan Jewell Snowden and five Swisher children: William Kelly III, Heaven Leigh, Trinity Rose, Gracé Summer, and Wesley Daniel. He was preceded in death by a stepson, Wesley Scott Spann.

Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday, August 27, 2015 in Herman H. Lohmeyer Chapel, 500 E. Walnut Street, Springfield. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, August 26, 2015, in the funeral Home.Burial will be in Greenlawn Memorial Gardens, Springfield. Memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society.

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