Carl Benton Reed

Carl Benton Reed was born on October 23, 1937, in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, to Cecile E. and Bluie Cookson Reed. Carl was fondly known as Doc to his community and Pappy to his family. As a young boy, he spent much of his time roaming the Cookson Hills of Eastern Oklahoma and he moved to Carter, Oklahoma in the seventh grade. That is where he met Betty Jo Cartmill, who eventually became the love of his life. He graduated in 1955 from Carter High School along with Betty and the 7 other members of their graduating class. Carl went on to attend and graduate from Carver Chiropractic College in Oklahoma City.

Betty and Carl got engaged in December of 1955, seventy years ago this month. They married in June of 1956 in Carter, Oklahoma in the midst of a blinding sandstorm. They refused to accept the storm as a bad omen, and it seems to have all worked out great. Their 70 years together were filled with raising their 6 children, entertaining their 13 grandchildren, and 10 great-grandchildren in a house filled with love and laughter. Carl and Betty enjoyed many years traveling, playing golf, camping, and gardening.

Carl’s passion was always to serve others as a healer. After graduating from chiropractic college, he joined his father—also a devoted Chiropractor—in practice, continuing a family legacy of care. In time, Carl felt called to build something of his own, so in 1965 he moved with his young family to start his own practice in Altus, Oklahoma. He spent decades improving the lives of his patients through better health, nutrition advice, and regular chiropractic treatments. Carl once served as the Oklahoma Delegate to the American Chiropractic Association in Washington D.C. He retired at the age of 82 after treating generations of healthier individuals.

Many people did not know that Carl was a poet. He penned many praise-worthy compositions over the years. In 2010, he was named the year’s White Buffalo Native American Poet Laureate by the Poetry Society of Oklahoma for a poem he wrote, entitled “The Poet and I”. Another favorite, “Papa’s There”, describing boyhood memories of his own beloved grandfather, Clement Cookson, will be read during the service.

Carl passed away peacefully in his sleep on December 9, 2025, just six months shy of Carl and Betty’s 70th wedding anniversary. He will be missed by his beloved family, “for as long as we see the morning sun”.

Carl will live on through his loving children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. His surviving family members include his wife, Betty; his children, daughters-Brenda Finney and husband, Michael, Wendy Howard and husband, Greg and son-Paul and wife, Kim. His grandchildren, Tinah and Rusty Moles, Olivia and Ned Dowdell, Caleb and Brittney Reed, Connor Finney, Grayson Howard, Benton Reed, Emily and Ben Schulz, Fletcher and Jaiden Reed, Carter Reed, Preston and Callie Reed, Kelly Finney, Bailey Howard, and Faith and Amber Reed. Great-grandchildren include, Camdyn, Maylyn, Beckhym, and Bryndle Moles, Annalise Reed, Ike and Max Schulz, Genevieve and Jimmer Reed, and Beckett Reed. Surviving family also includes numerous nieces and nephews.

Carl is preceded in death by his parents; daughter, Tena; and sons, Philip and David.

Services are scheduled for 10:00 AM on Monday, December 15th in the Kincannon Memorial Chapel followed by a graveside gathering for close friends and family in Carter, Oklahoma.

Online memorial tributes and expressions of sympathy may be left for the family at www.kincannonfuneralhome.com. The service may be watched at https://view.oneroomstreaming.com/index.php?data=MTc2NTQ4MzQwNTM5MjU1MSZvbmVyb29tLWFkbWluJmNvcHlfbGluaw==.