Reed Paul St. John

Reed Paul St. John, age 75, a 36-year resident of Valley, WA passed away on August 10, 2026 at his home. Reed was born on October 31, 1950 in Spokane, WA, the second of four children to Alvin Paul and Donna Irene (Hruska) St. John. Growing up, Reed lived in many places due to his father’s Navy career. He attended school in Hawaii, New Jersey, the UK, and Texas, before graduating from Channel Islands High School in Oxnard, California in 1968. Within a couple years, Reed hitchhiked from California to Maine where he later married Carol Priest. His first child, Erenee, was born there. 

The following year, the family moved to Deer Park, where Dane was born. The marriage ended in divorce. Reed married Brenda Parsons in 1984, and within 10 years the family had grown to include four more children: Sarah, Molly, Jacob, and Katherine. Reed spent many of his working years as Millwright and was employed by NWA from 1976 – 2003. With his broad skillset, Reed built the family’s large timber-frame hybrid house largely by himself from 1990-1999. After the plant shut down, Reed got his CDL. He drove long-haul for a while and then did Hazmat work for Global Diving and Salvage. 

He spent the later years of his career with Rich Richmond Logging. Reed was a horseman at heart and he enjoyed the rodeo sport of Team Penning. As the children grew, Reed had less time to spend with his horses, but along the way he puttered on old cars, rode motorcycles and dirt bikes, skied and snowboarded, and had many adventures. He greatly enjoyed monthly pinochle parties and Mexican Train get-togethers with good friends. Reed was a man of deep faith, very devoted to his family, and a loyal friend to many. He could fix almost anything. He will be dearly missed. Reed was preceded in death by his parents; brother Mark St. John; niece Tara Wines; and grandson Hayden Green. Reed is survived by his wife, Brenda St. John of Valley; children Erenee St. John of Oregon, Dane St. John (Bridget) of New Orleans; Sarah Garza ( Jaime) of Moses Lake; Molly Graboyes (Bryan) of Waimea, Hawaii; Jacob St. John of Chewelah; and Katherine Navarro (Cesar) of Yakima. 

He is also survived by 10 grandchildren; brother Robert St. John of Lacey, WA; sister Jill Dunkle (Pete) of Deer Park, sister-in-law Anne Tucker of Delaware, many nieces and nephews, and his faithful dog Cindy. The funeral services for Mr. Reed St. John will begin with a Rosary at 7:00 p.m., Thursday, August 20, 2026 followed by the Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 a.m., Friday, August 21. Both services will be at St. Mary of the Rosary Catholic Church in Chewelah. A graveside service and vault interment will follow at St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery in Chewelah. Memorial contributions may be given to St. Mary of the Rosary Academy (P. O. Box 26, Chewelah 99109). Please visit the online memorial and sign the guestbook at www.danekasfuneralchapel.com. Danekas Funeral Chapel and Crematory is entrusted with the arrangements.