Beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister, daughter and friend Julia Gay Reidhead, 56, passed away on Sunday morning, July 26, 2015, at Hospice Compassus In-Patient Care Unit in Payson from complications of liver cancer. A public visitation will be held from 6 to 8 o’clock tonight (July 31) at Owens Livingston Mortuary-White Mountain Chapel, located at 320 N. Ninth St. in Show Low. A graveside service with military honors will begin at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 1, at the Heber Cemetery.
She was born on a Thursday, Sept. 25, 1958, in Portland, Ore., to the late Jack Lester and Dorothy Lee (Dawson) Bonar.
Julia was a member of the graduating Class of 1976 from Rex Putnam High School in Milwaukee, Ore. Following her graduation, she enlisted in the United States Air Force and served honorably before receiving her honorable discharge.
On July 20, 1978, Julia married her forever sweetheart, Kenneth Wade “Ken” Reidhead in Wichita Falls, Texas. Several months later, she joined the LDS church. One thing she would always say was, “You only leave this earth with what you know.” She lived her life by this mantra and her life was a living testament of those words.
She and Ken moved to Overgaard 18 years ago following his retirement from the U.S. Air Force. She loved living in the beauty of the mountains and enjoyed the quiet, small-town feel of her community. She worked for many years as the front desk clerk for Worldmark by Wyndham at Bison Ranch in Overgaard. She loved her job. While working at Bison Ranch, she went on to continue with her studies and received her Associate’s Degree in Business Management from Northland Pioneer College.
Julia’s life, outside of work, was spent in the service of her family and friends. Hers was a life of selflessness. She was a sweetheart, and would do anything for anybody. Her favorite hobby was spent with her grandkids. They were, literally, her only hobby and she adored them all. This kind-hearted woman will be greatly missed by her family and friends.
Survivors include her husband of 37 years, Ken Reidhead of Overgaard; two children, Jacob (Kristina Lewandowski) Reidhead of Florida and Jason (Saebbe) Reidhead of Heber; and seven grandchildren, Adia, Matthew, Madison, Stryder, Accalia, Emeline and Barrett.
