Zella Mae Reed

Zella Mae Reed died peacefully just before sunrise on July 10 th , encircled by her two daughters in her Cambria, California home. She was 98 years old. Zella was born in Wamego, Kansas, the third of three children, of Warren and Mary Leeds (who both were also born in Kansas). She spent her childhood years there with her brother, Bob, and her sister, Virginia. Her and her siblings’ high school years were spent in Lynwood, California. After Zella’s high school graduation, her family moved to the Naval Air Base (NAB) in Alameda, CA, where they worked and resided until 1946; after which they returned to their home in Lynwood. Beginning in her high school years, Zella loved dancing the Jitterbug, Lindy Hop, Balboa, and West Coast Swing (to name a few) to the popular music of the big band swing era. Her enthusiasm for dancing earned her a spot in the NAB’s performance group, who traveled to various hospitals and sites to entertain injured soldiers and others. In 1943 Zella traveled with the group to Palm Springs and joined Jimmy Dorsey and His Orchestra, and also entertained with Nat King Cole. Dancing was Zella’s passion. It was this love of dancing that brought her and her husband, Carl Reed, together - they met at their local Compton community dance hall in their early 20’s and were dance partners for the rest of their lives. They enjoyed decades of friendships with The Revelers dance club in Whittier, CA, where they lived most of their lives and where they raised their children. Zella spent the last two decades of her life in Cambria, CA, continuing to do what she loved most. During the first decade she danced with Carl, her life-long dance partner & beloved husband of 61 years, sharing friendships and the love of dancing with the other members of the local dance club at the Joslyn Center, and also danced in the Cambria Labor Day Follies; continued traveling extensively with her husband, Carl, and with their family; and played tennis with Carl. After Carl’s death, Zella stayed with tennis until she was 88 years old. Zella also enjoyed volunteering and holding office in various social/civic groups throughout her life – her favorites being The Child Guidance Guild in Whittier and the Cambria Neighbors Club in Cambria. In addition to Zella being a phenomenal dancer, she was a fantastic bridge player and played consistently with her group in Whittier for decades. Zella was also a creative and skillful seamstress, crafter, hat maker, an impressive and clever poet, a splendid cook, and a marvelous party hostess. Zella was a spunky, classy, fun-loving, inspiring, gracious, and delightful woman who stayed active and mentally engaged throughout her life. Carl and Zella were married on October 23, 1948, and raised their four children, Diane Reed, Connie (Patterson/Johnston) Reed, Brian (Letty) Reed, and Rene (Seth) Sutherland in Whittier, CA. Zella is survived by her three daughters and son. Zella was preceded in death by her husband, Carl; sister, Virginia; and brother, Bob; and is survived by her four children, seven grandchildren, and 10 great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. Zella will be dearly missed by her children, relatives, and friends and fondly remembered by all who knew her. A Mass will be held on August 19, 2023, at 11am at the Old Santa Rosa Chapel in Cambria, with a grave-side service to follow. A memorial & celebration of Zella’s life will be held, afterwards, at Santa Rosa Catholic Church Hall at 1pm.

Zella Mae Reed

November 26, 1924 - July 10, 2023