Michael V. Reed

Retired attorney Michael V. Reed died April 14, 2025 of a stroke. He was 78. Mike grew up in Salem, Oregon. After graduating from Linfield College in McMinnville, Oregon in 1968, Mike went into the U.S. Air Force, serving as an aircraft maintenance officer for four years, mostly in Japan, with extended temporary duty in Vietnam and Korea. He then spent a year in graduate school in Geneva, Switzerland, studying international relations. Mike returned to the United States in 1973, and graduated from the University of Michigan Law School in 1976. He then moved to Portland, Oregon. After two years in a small law firm, Mike worked for the Oregon Department of Justice for more than eight years, representing a variety of state agencies, including the Oregon Liquor Control Commission (OLCC). He left the practice of law to serve as Deputy Director of the OLCC for the next ten years, in charge of statewide licensing and enforcement. In 1996 Mike hung out his shingle. Besides representing private clients, he was the contract hearing officer for the Oregon Department of Education for many years. In 2005, his largest client in Alpharetta, Georgia, hired him as full-time house counsel. Mike and his family moved to Georgia. Mike retired in 2014, but continued to work one day per week. Mike married his true love, Brandy, in 1989. In 1992, they adopted a sibling group of three boys, all under 3 years of age. Mike spent many years as a soccer coach, Cub Scout Pack Leader, and PTA member as the boys grew up. Mike was an avid handball player until 1980, when tennis became his favorite sport. He played tennis until his health no longer allowed it…in January 2017. Mike took up hockey at 50 years of age and then golf in his retirement years, but complained that the game always got the better of him. Mike enjoyed foreign languages, travel, dancing, and piano. And he loved dogs. Mike valued friends highly, and tended to develop very close friendships. Over the years he served as best man in the wedding of six friends or fraternity brothers, as well as an usher in several other weddings. Mike was a strong Christian, and served in a variety of roles in churches he and Brandy joined. He went on numerous international mission trips, and participated in many prison ministry events. He credited his faith with getting him through life’s challenges. He always considered himself to have been exceedingly blessed by God. Mick is survived by his wife Brandy, three sons, A.J., Anthony and Stephen; 4 granddaughters; 2 grandsons; brother, Russ; and sisters, Pat Sheridan Walker and Jackie Stenlund. A celebration of life service will be held on Friday, April 25, 2025 at 11am at First Baptist Church of Alpharetta.

Michael V. Reed

August 12, 1946 - April 14, 2025