COTTAGE GROVE - A beloved mother, sister, aunt, friend, artist, bartender and local legend, Mary Elizabeth Reed, 55, of Cottage Grove, was tragically taken on Wednesday, March 9, 2022, while on vacation in Fort Myers, Fla.

Mary was born on March 15, 1966, in Watertown, Wis., to Dr. William Reed and Jeanne (Paden) Reed. She had six brothers, William (Theresa) Reed, David (Jess) Reed, Daniel (Sharon) Reed, Chris (Jeri) Reed, Steve (Marcia) Reed and Ken (Becky) Reed; and two sisters, Laura (Keith) Reed-Blew and Sue (Dan) Schroeder. After graduating from Watertown Senior High School in 1984, she went on to the University of Wisconsin-Madison and graduated with a B.A.

For 30 years she worked as a bartender in some of Madison’s most iconic places including the Crystal Corner Bar, The Dive Inn, Brothers 3, and the Ale Asylum, becoming a legend in the city of Madison and leaving a lasting impression on everyone she worked with, customers and co-workers alike.

With denim shirts, hair wraps, fancy boots and a killer smile, she amused us with a keen wit, a sharp tongue, a gift for sarcasm, she said it like it was, with no apologies. She lived out loud and met challenges head-on; skinny hand and all. She will be remembered for her beauty, her wild hair, her sense of style and a genuine nature that enveloped everyone she met. Literally everyone.

She loved the water, the sun, hanging out with her family, her friends, orange juice, dairy (but it didn’t like her), good food, her dogs, art, a good nap, Great Danes, pull tabs and slot machines. She took up bird watching and loved reading the obits. However, none of these things compared to the love she had for her beautiful girls, Olivia (20) and Maisy (17) Lecher.

Certainly, Mary would be amazed by the genuine outpouring of love and the sheer number of people that she has impacted. Of course, the rest of us knew it all along.

She is predeceased by her parents and is survived by her two beautiful daughters, Oliva (20) and Maisy (17); her partner, Greg “Homie” Rowly; stepdaughter, Nicole (22); her eight siblings; and numerous nieces and nephews.

A celebration of Mary’s life will be held at THE EAST SIDE CLUB, 3735 Monona Drive, Madison, on Thursday, March 24, 2022. A private service for close friends and family will be held at 2 p.m. followed by a public visitation from 4 p.m. until 6 p.m. on Thursday.

In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that donations be made to Mary’s Girls Foundation, c/o Gunderson East Funeral Home, 5203 Monona Dr., Madison, WI 53716 or go to: https://formarysgirls.com/. Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.

Love you longtime Mary.

Gunderson East

Funeral & Cremation Care

5203 Monona Drive

(608) 221-5420

Mary Reed

March 15, 1966 - March 09, 2022

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