Wayne Reed (Tulia)

Kress, Texas -- Billie Wayne Reed, 65, passed away at his home near Kress, Texas, on Tuesday April 11, 2023. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, April 15, 2023, at 10:00 am at the Plainview New Covenant Church with Mr. Ron Brunson and Rev. Jim Adams officiating. Burial will follow at Kress Cemetery under the care of Kornerstone Funeral Directors of Tulia.

A visitation will be held Friday, April 14, 2023, from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm at the Kornerstone Funeral Directors Chapel in Tulia.

Wayne was a well-respected cowboy, producer, and resident of Swisher County. Wayne, as he was commonly known, was born on April 12, 1957, to Bill and Carolyn Reed of Kress. Wayne grew up on the family farm and ranch, was a member of the Kress United Methodist Church, and a 1975 graduate of Kress High School where he was active in football and other activities. As a youth Wayne was active in 4-H where he competed in many livestock and public speaking competitions where he developed his life-long love for horses and animal husbandry. As a

4-H’er Wayne was a 1974 Gold Star Award winner. As a member of the Swisher County Sheriff’s Posse and Kress Riding Club, Wayne won High Point Individual in the Play Day Association.

 Because of his love for animals, Wayne earned a technical degree in Ranch Operations from TSTI in Amarillo. Wayne then followed his heart and went to work for several ranches, all of them along the Colorado River across Texas, from Roscoe to Smithville including the Fall Creek Ranch in Llano. While working these ranches some of his duties in addition to cattle and horse management included helping oversee an endangered bison herd, one of the first commercial ostrich herds, managing exotic wildlife, and guiding archaeologist to historic Native American sites on the ranches. Wayne also spent time as a recreational guide along some of the Texas rivers and waterways.

Wayne then returned to Swisher County in the mid-1980’s to help on the family farm. In 1990 Wayne took over the family farm, would conduct day-work cattle for hire on the side, and had worked at the Tulia Livestock Auction over the past several years. In 2007, Wayne married Stephanie Hollowell. The two were active members of the Plainview New Covenant Church and Wayne would frequently utilize his cowboy work to spread his passion for Jesus with those he encountered. Wayne also had a driven spirit to create worship songs. After a serious horse accident in 2018, he stepped away from managing the farm and daywork. Wayne was still working at the Tulia Livestock Auction part-time until he retired in 2023.

Wayne is preceeded in death by his parents, Bill and Carolyn Reed, and his sister Dana Daniel of Gustine.

Wayne is survived by his wife Stephanie Reed, sister Denise Reed of Kress, brother Blayne Reed and wife Brandy of Kress, 3 nieces Ember Reed of Nacogdoches, Cheyenne Bontke of Lubbock, Deidre Been of Gustine and 1 nephew Jerik Reed of Stephenville.

 Memorials may be made to Plainview New Covenant Church, 3300 Kokomo, Plainview, TX 79072.

Online condolences can be made at www.kornerstonefunerals.com.