Reeda Fae Niksich
November 16, 1928 - December 9, 2021
Obituary
November 16, 2028 – December 9, 2022
Reeda Fae La Fon was born on November 16, 1928 on a farm in Cleburne, Texas to Thomas Chester La Fon and Lillie Lee La Fon. She had 3 siblings that preceded her in death, brother Thomas Chester, JR, sister Mildred, and sister La Fern. There she grew up in a strict Seventh Day Adventist community where she attended school.
As a school girl, she took piano and voice lessons and was in the school choir. In 1944, during WWll, her family moved to California where she attended Lynnwood Academy. She worked during the summers as a nanny for director William Wellman, to pay for school.
After attending high school, she got a job at Sears. She then met her first husband and had a beautiful baby that she named Lori. She took classes to learn how to take dictation on the Stenotype Machine so that she could become a secretary. Soon after, she was hired to work for Aerojet-General Corporation as a secretary for the Corporate Controller of the Company. She loved her job there. After several years of marriage, she got a divorce and moved to Sacramento with the same company.
Reeda enjoyed the clean, beautiful, blue skies of Sacramento. This is where she met and married her lifetime partner and love, Joseph Niksich. They had two children, Daniel and Susan and moved to Seattle, Washington. There they bought a home where they raised their children. Reeda loved being a mother, enjoyed reading, bowling, traveling, entertaining, attending church and was an amazing cook.
Reeda and Joe were married for 48 years and overcame many obstacles. Joseph bravely fought Multiple Sclerosis by learning to give himself Acupuncture treatments. Reeda fearlessly recovered from ovarian cancer, while raising 2 young children. With the help of the Lord, and their commitment to each other, they both survived their illnesses.
Reeda worked at Boeing as a legal secretary until retirement. After retirement, she and Joseph moved to Suncity Vistoso, a retirement community in Tucson, Arizona. They enjoyed playing Bocce Ball, socializing with friends and going on cruises. Reeda was president of the Day Trippers, a community recreational committee, where she planned many fun activities and trips.
After living in Tucson for 10 years, Reeda and Joe moved back to Auburn, Washington to spend time with their daughter, son-in-law, Ken, and their grandchildren, Joey, Parker and Sydney Rose. They enjoyed spending time with their family and watching their grandchildren grow up. When their son Daniel flew into town, Reeda “cooked up a storm” and they would stay up late talking and laughing.
Several years after Joe died in 2007, Reeda sold her home and moved to a retirement community at Merrill Gardens. She loved living there where she met many of her dear friends that she made, went on day trips and always seemed to be lucky at Bingo.
On December 9, 2022 at age 93, Reeda passed away, surrounded by her family who loved her dearly. She is survived by her daughter, Lori Jedda, son Daniel Niksich, daughter Sue Cacatian, and grandchildren, Joey, Parker and Sydney Rose. Reeda will be remembered for her kindness to others and her outgoing, perky spirit. Reeda is now reunited with her husband, Joseph and her family in heaven. She will always be loved and missed by her family and friends.
