Carlton Day “Bud” Reed was at once successful yet unassuming, one of his sonsin law said Tuesday.

Reed was a driving force behind the prosperity of hometown construction business Reed & Reed Inc. He was 82 when he died last Saturday following a long endurance with Alzheimer’s disease.

“He was accom- plished, but a great example of how to live a good life,” said sonin law Jack Parker, current president of Reed & Reed. “He was unassuming, unpretentious, kind and determined.”

Parker is married to one of Carlton and Helen Elizabeth Cummings Reed’s five daughters, Susan.

Carlton Reed was president and chairman of the board at Reed & Reed. He was deacon, trustee and treasurer of Days Ferry Congregational Church. Reed was a star athlete at both Morse High School and Colby College, and served in both the state Senate — where he was senate president and senate minority leader — and House of Representatives. In 1966, he ran for governor.

Reed also was president of the Woolwich Historical Society, and helped write the book, “History of Woolwich, Maine.”

He had been ill for years, Parker said.

“But his large and devoted family helped him through the ordeal,” Parker said.

Accomplished as he was, people will remember Carlton Reed for his other qualities as well.

“He was just a man for others,” Parker said. “Anyone who knew him would say, ‘Bud Reed, what a great guy.’”

lgrard@timesrecord.com