2023-02 Book Award – Nancy Kerr Reed

Home » 2023-02 Book Award – Nancy Kerr Reed


February 13, 2023 – WVGS Membership meeting – CDC.

When one of our members reaches the age of 90, they get to choose a book for WVGS to purchase. The book is presented at a Monthly Membership meeting. It goes back to the Library as part of our collection. The most recent honoree is Nancy Reed.

Nancy Kerr Reed was born in Duluth, Minnesota, on December 31, 1932. She was the youngest of five children. Her family moved to Vallejo, California, just before WWII for her father to work in the Naval Shipyards. After graduation, she married her high school sweetheart Ken, who had enlisted in the Air Force. For the next 20 years, they lived in Michigan, California, Goose Bay, Labrador, Florida, and Japan. After retirement, they settled in San Bernardino, California. An opportunity came their way, and they moved to Arizona. Ken taught high school for 20 years, college classes at Rio Salado for 20 years, Park College, and now Lifelong Learning. Nancy finished college as a social worker and then worked for the community college system as a director of educational programs.

Through the years, family history was always an interest. Phone books were checked in every city, to see if anyone matched the family names. She discovered the Sun City Genealogical Library and took an introductory course. She has never regretted it and has learned so much through the programs, lectures, and members.

She has met many friends through the Lake Superior Chippewa Nation, which is an integral part of the family history. The Cobron family belongs to the Fon du Lac tribe. Madeline Island in Wisconsin was named after a grandmother. Chief Buffalo, a grandfather, was important in treaty-making with the US Government. For years she was the Leader of the Indian Small Interest Group (SIG) for WVGS.

She selected a book for the Library to add more information about the Indian nations. “Indians of the Pacific Northwest: A History, Volume 158,” by Robert H. Ruby and John A. Brown.

West Valley Genealogical Society