Wiley Hagler Reed III

What can I say about Wiley? Everyone loved Wiley. He had a certain charm about him that made you want him to be your best friend. I fell in love with a man that made me laugh and made me feel like the most treasured thing on Earth. When we first got married, Wiley did not want children. But learning how much it meant to me, he surrendered. After having two amazing, loving boys, Wiley never looked back. His love for his family allowed him to experience life’s pure joy and it’s a great blessing that we got to share this.

The quality I most admired about Wiley was his perseverance. Wiley chose to become who he was. He didn’t have an easy childhood; his father was out of his life by the time Wiley was two. He supported himself through college. He worked extremely hard into the high ranks of the telecommunications business.

Wiley’s spare time was devoted to Morgan, Parker and me. Besides his family, his other love was flying. As a family, we had taken trips to Park City, Utah, Santa Fe, Dallas, and San Diego. And flying solo was spiritual to Wiley. Soaring over God’s beautiful landscapes, Wiley felt free – yet more connected to the world than ever.

It remains almost incomprehensible that Wiley is gone. His life represents good things that this world could use more of. He had a heart of gold, and had a way that just naturally made people laugh and smile. He just made you feel good about yourself.

Shortly after the accident, my sister Val had a dream of Wiley in heaven. He had a Miller Lite in hand, and he told her he was content. That image of Wiley gives me a sense of peace – and knowing that he is beside Morgan and Parker, taking care of them.

I encourage anyone/everyone to submit their own story of Wiley or their own special message that they would like added to this section of the website.

"The thing I could count on with Wiley was perspective. I talked to him sometimes two or three times a week; other times we would go two or three weeks without talking. But in every conversation, it was like petty realities were suspended. It all became funny. Whether it was a conversation about the latest car he was going to buy (then sell)… or the hilariousness of Morgan and Parker’s lives… Wild speculation about future adventures we might be brewing up… it was an innate understanding of putting importance on the important things. It just seemed Wiley knew we were lucky. Lucky in life, lucky to know each other. All the other stuff was just the mud on our boots. I believe I left every one of these conversations energized, with an improved perspective on life. That naturally occurring perspective is rare. And now rarer yet." - Craig Howard