Douglas J. Reed

  Douglas J. Reed, 82, passed away peacefully at his home in Fishers Landing
Wednesday, June 26, 2024, with his loving family at his side.
   Doug was born in Watertown November 30, 1941, son of Gerald E. and Janice H.
(Lee) Reed. He was a graduate of Clayton High School and attended Tennessee
Wesleyan University on a scholarship where he played basketball and sang in choir.
   On May 29, 1966, he married Sharon Marriam at Omar United Methodist Church with
Rev. Card officiating. Sharon, a teacher at Alexandria Bay Central School, passed
January 3, 2020.
   With his father, Gerald, Doug ran Reed's Marina and then purchased it from his father.
He was a manager at Seaway Disposal, which was purchased by Tricil. He then took a
management position at Jordan Steel in Syracuse. Doug returned to the refuse
business when he established Reeson Refuse in Watertown, retiring in 1999.
   Doug was a member of Christ Episcopal Church, Clayton and American Legion Post
0904 in Alexandria Bay. Doug played in the Clayton Men’s Twilight Golf League. He and
his wife wintered in Punta Gorda, FL, starting in 2000, where he was a member of the
Moose Lodge 1693 and Elks Lodge 2606.
   Doug’s lifelong passion was racing stock outboards. He was a member of the Fishers
Landing Racing Club, founded by his father in 1947. He ran in his first marathon in 1955
competing with his brother Donnie. In 1964 Doug was sponsored by the Thousand Islands Bridge Authority and donned the name “Mr. Thousand Islands” in his 28-N. He won the T. I. Marathon in the B Utility division in the 1960s. He was also a member of the American Power Boat Association and raced all along the eastern seaboard, Canada, and California. He shepherded many young racers with his support through the remainder of his days.
   Doug enjoyed boating, golfing, and music. He and his beloved wife Sharon loved
traveling, meeting new friends and spending time with family.
   He is survived by his four children and their spouses, Philip N. and Margaret Reed,
Fishers Landing, Suzanne R. and Steven Dobson, Palm Coast, FL, D. Scott and Amy
Reed, Manlius, and Roxanne R. and Matthew Watson, Narragansett, RI; eleven
grandchildren and three great grandchildren; two sisters, Iris J. Waterson, Fishers
Landing and Karen LaFave, Ogdensburg; and several nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Along with his parents and wife, Doug was predeceased by brother Donald L. Reed,
1955; two brothers-in-law, Floyd C. Waterson, 2022 and Stanley LaFave, 2000; and
niece Lori J. Neumann, 2023.
   A memorial service will be held on Friday, July 5, at 11:00AM at Christ Episcopal
Church, Clayton with Rev. Lisa Busby, pastor, presiding. A celebration of his life will be held at Foxy's Restaurant, Fishers Landing following the service. There are no calling hours and
arrangements are entrusted with Cummings Funeral Service, Inc., Clayton. Online
condolences to Doug's family may be posted at www.cummingsfuneral.com. Donations
in his name may be made to Hospice of Jefferson County, 1398 Gotham St.,
Watertown, NY 13601.

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