Reed Kay Tomlinson, age 73, of North Platte, NE, lost his long battle with cancer when he passed away on Saturday, January 23, 2016, at Great Plains Health in North Platte.

Reed was born April 1, 1942, to George Reed and Lucille Fay Roller Tomlinson at Twin Falls, ID. The family lived in Arkansas and California before moving to North Platte when Reed was young. He graduated from North Platte High School then worked as an electrician for Union Oil Refinery before going to work at the Gerald Gentleman Station. In 1972 Reed hired on with the Union Pacific Railroad as an electrician and retired from there in 2004.

On February 14, 1970, Reed married Sharon Ilee Drake in Richmond, CA where they lived until 1993 when they moved to North Platte. Reed loved his family and after retiring was a great cheerleader for his grandchildren and was a hero to them as well.

Reed also loved building and racing race cars and drove #66 from 1960 to 1986. He was a member of Brothers of the Third Wheel Motorcycle Club.

He leaves behind his sons, Jonathan (Michelle) Tomlinson, of North Platte and James Tomlinson, of Kearney, NE; six grandchildren, Chris Arneson, Shaquille (Shirley) Merksick, Jordan Cook, Breaonna Coleman, Anthony Tomlinson and Fletcher Tomlinson; four brothers, Walter, Vern, Daniel and Herb Tomlinson, all of North Platte; sisters, Yvonne Hiatt and Janice Walker, both of North Platte, Linda (Vern) Thompson, of Hershey, NE, and Deb (Ken) Durant, of Auburn, NE; his beloved dog, Moses; and many nieces, nephews and other family.

Reed was preceded in death by his wife, Sharon; his parents, George and Lucille; and a brother, Richard Tomlinson.

Cremation was chosen. A family gathering will be at a later date. Condolences may be shared at odeanchapel.com. Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore is in charge of arrangements.