Alyce LaVerne Darlene Reed

Published June 09, 2019 at 6:39 PM

LaVerne was born in Automba MN on March 15, 1935 to Matt & Edna (Jarvenpaa) Reed, the youngest of thirteen children. At her birth her Father exclaimed, "And this is our little girl Lovey." Lovey left this life and went on to the next adventure June 4, 2019 on Reed Lane in Automba Township. She was a young 84.

Lovey grew up in Automba and at a very young age ran the Reed Store and Post Office - pumping gas, selling groceries, dry goods, and feed.

Following the family tradition she attended Kalevala Grade School at the age of five and graduated from Barnum High School in 1953. Lovey was an accomplished athlete, learning those skills playing sandlot sports in Automba with family and the neighbors. She played on the boys' softball team in those years.

She first worked out West in Seattle WA but was pulled to the big city of New York around 1960. She lived a full life, focusing on art and writing and had a colorful, long list of creative friends. Her early years in NYC found her working at Grolliers, the National Repertory Theater, Kanawha Films, lyricist Bob Crewe in his work with the Four Seasons, the Broadway show "Hair" producer Michael Butler, the painter Harry Jackson, the Alvin Ailey Dance Studio, and as a creative columnist for Essence and Redbook magazines. Her tin can Christmas tree became the center piece of the Hallmark Cards Christmas presentation in Manhattan.

Lovey spent the later 1970's working on the Alaska Pipeline construction. Back in NYC she worked with Paul Grivas, presenting seminars on the Silva Mind Method and in time founded her own company THEME. She traveled internationally with the Silva Mind Method presentations.

Care of her ailing sister Irene brought her back to live in Automba on Reed Lane, teamed with her sister Betty Jane. Lovey continued her creative journey and performed with the Kalevala Theater Society, promoted the Nemadji Arts Council, and was on the board of the Arrowhead Regional Arts Council.

Lovey is survived by one sister Betty Jane of Automba; sister in laws Gena Reed of San Fernando CA and Bernice Reed of Georgetown, Texas; a host of nephews, nieces, great nephews and nieces and great-great nephews and nieces.

She believed that this transition is "Just another growth step," filled each day with focusing on being better and better, and that we should all keep smiling.

A Celebration of Passage will be held on June 14, 2019 from 11 AM to 3 PM with a program at 12 Noon and a lunch following. The gathering will be in the Event room at the Moose Lake Area Historical Society Soo Line Depot/Fires of 1918, 900 Folz Blvd, Moose Lake MN 55767. Contributions may be made in Lovey's name to the St. Croix Hospice Foundation, 4897 Miller Trk Hwy, Suite 209, Hermantown, MN 55811 or your favorite arts initiative.