Obituary: Daralyn Ellis Reed

Daralyn was born on August 30, 1942 in Dunsmuir, Ca to John and Dorismae Doggett Ellis. She was the oldest of five children and passed away on May 16, 2025. She was always proud to tell everyone she was a fifth-generation Siskiyou County resident, descended from the Doggett and Crary families.

Daralyn started school in Happy Camp, Ca and graduated from the Yreka Jackson Street elementary school and Yreka High school along with her beloved classmates of the class of 1960. She studied government at the University  of  California,  Berkeley  and  California  State  University Sacramento.

Then in 1965 she started her long and successful career in California politics by working as a loaned executive from the Pacific Telephone Company to President Reagans first campaign for governor of California and to his Inaugural committee.  She was hooked on politics and spent the rest of her life involved in practically every aspect of politics. She had found her calling.

In 1989 she founded the Daralyn Reed Company providing treasurer, fiscal management  and compliance  reporting  services  for  committees  and candidates and others throughout California.  The company was a big success and Daralyn owned and managed it until her retirement just 4 years ago. She was a member of numerous state organizations and was always active in proposals to change campaign financing reporting requirements.

After living and operating her business in Santa Monica, Ca, Daralyn decided she could operate and manage her business from anywhere, so she moved back to Yreka in 2000 and never regretted doing so. She didn’t miss the busy big city and really enjoyed getting reacquainted with old friends and making many new ones . Turns out it is true “you can take the girl out of the country but you can’t take the country out of the girl”. She was very happy to be back and enjoy the mountains and a little less hectic life.

Daralyn was preceded in death by both parents and brother Jim and  is survived by her daughter Kelly, sisters Sheryl and Candy and brother John.

Several nieces and nephews and grandson Flint and his wife Katie and grandchildren Kailyn and Myles. Also many local relatives including cousin Tana Gliatto and her husband Ralph who monitored and helped her whenever needed for the past two years.

A Rosary and funeral mass will be held at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 314 4^th Street, Yreka, Ca 96097. The Rosary will be at 6:00 PM on Friday, June 20, 2025 and the funeral mass at 11:00 AM on Saturday, June 21, 2025.

A reception will be held at the Wine Bar following the mass.  Daralyn contributed to a variety of organizations. Please consider a contribution to an organization of your choice in honor of Daralyn.