Janet Elizabeth Reed

Janet Elizabeth Reed, 54, of Oak Harbor, died Oct. 16, 2007, with her family by her side at the home where she had lived for over 50 years. She was born in Jacksonville, Fla., on April 5, 1953, to Edward and Vera (Petty) Armstrong. At an early age her family moved to the farm on Whidbey Island while her father was serving in the United States Navy.

Janet enjoyed growing up on a farm, raising horses and goats. While still in high school she met Jim “Butch” Lee. They left school early to get married and start a family. Over the next several years they traveled across the United States, while Jim served in the Navy, from Millington, Tenn., to Alameda, Calif., and back to Whidbey Island.

Janet and Jim later divorced and, in 1985, she married Thomas Reed who was also in the Navy. They spent several years in Virginia before returning to Oak Harbor to live at the family home. Janet and Thomas also divorced.

Janet loved anything to do with the outdoors, gardening, farming, and raising animals. She built her own greenhouse and operated her own landscaping business. She fought a courageous battle with various kinds of cancer for the last five years of her life.

She is survived by her children and grandchildren, James “Chip” Lee (Abby and Emmy Lee) of Bellingham, Christopher Lee (Brooke Lee), Heather Deleon (Christian Deleon, Brianna Chamberlain, Nathan Deleon, Ethan Chamberlain and Hunter Deleon), and Tory Verdin (Gabriel Verdin), all of Oak Harbor. She also leaves behind a brother Dennis Armstrong of Bellingham, and a sister Diane Nelson of Oak Harbor.

Arrangements are entrusted to Burley Funeral Chapel.