The world lost quite a hero on October 24, 2014. Mike Reeder, beloved husband, father, bother, and friend lost his battle with brain cancer at his home surrounded by his loving family.
Mike has called Franklin, TN home since the early 1980’s and quickly became a well known resident in this community. His story, however, began long before he and his family established roots in Franklin. Mike was a Viet Nam war veteran who survived a traumatic explosion early in his stint in Viet Nam. He was the recipient of the bronze star and purple heart. He later married his love and soul mate Debby, together they raised three beautiful daughters Jessica (Dwayne), Sarah, and MaryKate (Zach), who he cherished. The family is also blessed with two grandchildren, Savannah (12) and Wyatt (8). His sisters, Jane Reeder & Susan Reyburn and niece, Joanna May.
A humble hero has left. It’s not time for tears but time for a joyful celebration of the life he lived. Michael will be greatly missed. His memory and legacies he leaves behind will be an inspiration for years to come.
Please join us in celebrating Mike’s life on Thursday October 30, 2014 at 4:00 pm. We will gather at his second home, Forrest Crossing Golf Course 750 Riverview Drive Franklin, TN 37064 (615) 794-9400.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Mike’s favorite charity,
Tee It Up for the Troops
515 West Travelers Trail
Burnsville, MN 55337
(952) 646-2490

Or, to the facility that helped our family greatly during Mike’s final days,
Willowbrook Hospice
381 Riverside Drive, Suite 440
Franklin, TN 37064
(615)791-8499


A Letter From Mike:

The Back 9 of Life
Once you realize you are older than most others you see around you on a daily basis, and you told yourself you had made the turn to the back 9 several years ago, you start wondering “what hole am I on???”
You do your mental gymnastics trying to figure out your position on the golf course of life. “Am I on 13 fairway or 16 green?”
Everybody plays the complete 18 holes of life, but everyone’s course is different. Some play longer and some much shorter.
It is the back 9 for me, I’m sure. But as I look thru the scorecard of what I have played so far, I see some birdies and a few double bogies along with a bunch of pars.
My round started with a birdie!
Born into a loving family! What a great way to start.
But soon enough a Big double bogie…the sudden death of my father when I was 8 years old.
Followed not soon enough by a string of birdies as I discovered my musical talent and all the joy that followed me for many years. Culminating with another double bogie of being maimed in the Viet Nam war. This trauma could have been my turn to the back 9 as the medical system assured me, “because of the trauma to my body, I would be LUCK to live to see my 50th birthday.”
I was having none of that.
Soon enough I slam dunked a double Eagle by finding and marrying my beautiful sweet baby, Debby, my soul mate.
More birdies followed with the births of our 3 daughters and then another birdie when I discovered I had a natural talent for golf.
Leading up to another double bogie, was the discovery of and then surgery to removed a brain tumor! Well, THAT shortened my course and moved me several holes thru the course of life!
Now that I am probably on 16 green or 17 tee, I find out from the doctors that a double bogie is ahead of me. The tumor is back and I am scheduled for surgery in approximately one month!
So. I have to be short of the 18th hole, because I AM NOT going to finish my round with a dbl bogie!
I will study every shot, grind on every putt, and play my last few holes well.
I.E. I will cherish everyday; by telling those I love, how special they are to me, seeing the beauty of every day and all of God’s wondrous world, and SMILE.