Dennis Irving Reed of Jacksonville, Florida died Oct. 16, 2016.

He was born February 26, 1940 and raised in Boothbay Harbor, Maine. This is where he developed his love of the water. He did a stint in the Army, but decided the water was better suited for him, so he joined the Coast Guard. He met Sharon Reed in New Jersey and it was a case of love at first site. He asked her to marry him three days later and they were married about two months later. They were married for 52 years.

Dennis moved his family to Boothbay Harbor when the kids were young. They lived in Maine for 22 years. During this time, he was stationed at various places on ships and at lighthouses. Dennis retired from the U.S. Coast Guard in 1980, after 22 years of service.

Dennis was not one to sit still in retirement, so he went to work as a dispatcher at the Sheriff’s Dept. Then his love of old cars led him to start his own business towing and snow plowing which he named Reed’s Express. Eventually, Dennis and Sharon decided to move to Sarasota, Florida to help care for Dennis’ elderly mother. They were blessed to have 10 more years with Grace.

Meanwhile, daughter Regan had started living and working in Jacksonville, Florida. Then they decided that it was time to be nearer to Regan so they moved to Jacksonville and were there for three years. An added bonus to Jacksonville was being nearer to some extended family. Sharon’s great nephew, Mark (Becky) Wood and their children, Tyler and Kaliana, also live in Jacksonville, and have been like a son, daughter and grandchildren to them.

Dennis was a member of the VFW and The USCG Chief Petty Officers Association.

He was predeceased by his parents, Rodney and Grace Reed, and his two sisters, Bernice Reed and Betty Reed Thomas.

He is survived by his wife, Sharon; his son, Tim (Donna), of Freeport, Maine; his daughter, Regan, of Jacksonville, Florida, his daughter, Jana Barlow Primmer; four grandsons, Ryan Reed, Seth Reed (Patrick), and Devon Primmer; niece, Leslie Thomas (Katharine); and great-niece, Bernice. He is also survived by a very special four-legged daughter, Kati.

A celebration of his life was held on Thursday, October 20 at 2 p.m. at Church of Our Saviour, 12236 Mandarin Rd., Jacksonville, FL 32250.

Dedication of his ashes will be held in Boothbay Harbor, Maine, in the summer of 2017.