Dr. Kenneth Reed

Dr. Kenneth Buford Reed passed away peacefully at his home in Boulder Creek, CA, on September 19, 2026. He was 95 years old. 

He was born in Rose, KS, in 1930. He was the youngest of seven children of parents Robert Elbert “Bert” Reed and Madge Blanche (Sollars) Reed. As a boy, he rode a horse to catch a bus on his 16-mile journey to school daily, even in the snow. After graduating from Humbolt high school, he joined the Army, where he achieved the rank of Sgt. E5. After serving in the Army, he went to the University of Kansas for undergrad, then Medical School. While at KU, a friend introduced him to Barbara Ottalie Power who he married June 21, 1958. After Med-school, he was an Intern at Kaiser Foundation Hospital in San Francisco, CA, and a Resident at Sacred Heart in Spokane, WA. 

Hearing that Boulder Creek, CA, was looking for a physician, Dr. Reed and Dr. Kenneth Fendorf opened Boulder Creek Medical Clinic where Dr. Reed served until his retirement in 1994. It was not uncommon for him to make house calls (especially to see older patients) or to see emergency patients at his office in the middle of the night, holidays, and weekends.

In his distinguished career he served on the staff of both Dominican Hospital and Community Hospital, both in Santa Cruz. He was the Chief of Staff at Community Hospital for two years, on the Board of Governors for Dominican Hospital, and served 12 years on the Dominican Foundation Board. He was VP of the Central Coast Foundation for Medical Care for one year, a member of the Board of Directors for California Academy of Family Practice, and a Diplomate to the American Academy of Family Practice. He was a member of the California and American Associations of Family Physicians.

He was an active community member serving as the team Doctor for SLV football for many years. He worked closely with the Boulder Creek Fire Department to help them coordinate responses with Emergency Medical calls. He was a deacon at First Baptist Church of Scotts Valley for 12 years and continued serving into the current Gateway Bible Church as an elder. 

Ken was a hunter of ducks and deer, and an ocean and freshwater fisherman. He tied flies and fished creeks with a local fly-fishing group. He was known for his recipes for preparing Salmon, Ceviche, and Cioppino. He kept a garden every year, growing squash and tomatoes for his family and flowers for his wife. 

Ken and Barbara had 2 sons, David and Michael. His wife Barbara passed away in 2019. Ken was the last surviving of his siblings: Harold, Wilbur, Victor, Byrda Reed, Vivian (Reed) Cary and Mildred (Reed) Raymond. 

A service will be held at 1:00 PM, on October 10, 2026, at Gateway Bible Church in Scotts Valley. A Celebration of Life will be held in Boulder Creek at the Fire Department Recreation Hall on April 10, 2027.