Mary Catherine Reeder

Mary Catherine Reeder, 79 of Lakewood Colorado, passed away peacefully, surrounded by her loved ones on Saturday, November 25, 2023, one day shy of her 80th birthday. She was born in El Paso, Texas while her father, Candido Ortiz, was serving in the U.S. Army during WWII. Mary graduated from St. Pius Catholic High School of Albuquerque in May 1961 and relocated to Colorado in 1969, where she raised her two children, Dan Reeder and Deborah "Devon" Reeder Ellison. As a strong and independent person, she obtained a Paralegal Associates Degree in 1978, then continued her studies and received her BS degree in Business Administration from Regis University in 1981. Mary was passionate in everything she pursued, exploring it with style and grace. She was internationally known as a breeder of champion German Shepherds. She pursued a long successful career in the oil & gas industry as a paralegal, spending countless hours researching land titles and writing legal briefs for the attorneys. Relied upon for her legal analysis and expertise, Mary was frequently sought out by the attorneys for advice in various legal actions. Mary retired from the oil and gas industry in the mid 2000's. Being the free spirt that she was, she went full steam ahead into a new career, Real Estate, receiving her Broker's license and running her own Real Estate Brokerage company, Quality Meto Brokers. During her long successful professional careers, she also found time to oversee the completion of two major home renovation projects and applied her excellent fashion design skills to tailor Devon's bridesmaid dresses. After fully retiring, she applied her energy and enthusiasm in the kitchen. As a gourmet chef and baker, she loved to entertain, preparing fancy dinners and delicious breakfast pastries to share with friends and family. Mary had an expansive vocabulary so playing Scrabble was a favorite pastime. Every morning she enjoyed her coffee, pastry and expanded her mind with a crossword puzzle. Her pleasures were working in the yard and gardening as she poured her heart into her garden, loaded with plants and flowers that she knew by name, keeping the yard in beautiful bloom. After a long, hard but joyful day being outside, you could hear Mary say "it has to be five o'clock somewhere". Mary is survived by her two children, Daniel Reeder, wife Kendra and twins Brady and Sophie; Devon Ellison, husband Kirk and sons, Grant and Kyle. She is also survived by two sisters, Belinda Crosby and Carol Schuster, and five nephews and nieces; Bryan, Carleen, Kerri, Scott and Steven. She is proceeded in death by her parents, Candido and Ursula, brother Don Ortiz and beloved Aunt Francis Ortiz.
Funeral Services: Thursday, December 14, 2023
St Jude's Catholic Church, 9405 W. Florida Ave, Lakewood, CO
Rosary @ 10:00 AM – Mass @ 11:00 AM
Reception to follow

In lieu of flowers the family is requesting donations in memory of Mary Reeder to either National Jewish Hospital (nationaljewish.org/donate) and or Collier Hospice (supportluthern.org), Wheat Ridge, Colorado.