Lillian Onidee Reed Nutter graduated to heaven on May 11, 2025. She was born April 13,1929 about one mile back on the hill from her current residence on Highway 5 W. She was the elder daughter of Erma Beall Reed and Camden Reed of the Kanawha Drive Community. Her grandparents, Louis and Ally Beall, had a daily role in shaping Onidee’s life.
Onidee graduated from Tanner High School in 1946. She began her 35-year career teaching school in 1948. Her first year was spent at a one room schoolhouse in Trace Fork, WV. In Cedar Creek State Park, Glenville, WV, Onidee’s name is listed on a plaque in honor of or in memory of all Gilmer County, WV one room schoolhouse teachers.
Onidee married Herman Nutter, the love of her life, on February 12, 1949. In 1950, Onidee and her husband moved to Baltimore, MD during the Great Appalachian Snowstorm, which impacted Glenville with 55 inches of snow. Although it was slow going, they made it safely to MD! She later said she was thankful she listened to her grandmother, Ally Beall, and dated Herman because he had a car! Her other boyfriend only rode a horse and a journey to MD via horseback in a snowstorm, well it wouldn’t have been much fun!
She taught school in Baltimore for the next 15 years, returning to WV in 1968 to care for her mother. The remainder of her 35-year teaching career was at Sand Fork and Tanner, WV. She graduated from Glenville State College in 1972 with a Bachelor of Arts degree majoring in Elementary 1-9. Her grandfather, Louis Beall, encouraged her to seek a higher education and he provided the funds for her to obtain her degree. Onidee was a mother to many of her students and was dearly loved and remembered by all! God’s timing was perfect when He took her home on Mother’s Day 2025! In her trips around Glenville, she would often stop and say, “didn’t I teach you in school” and then the conversations would begin.
Onidee and Herman had one son, Fred Nutter, who died on September 3, 2008, due injuries sustained as a result of an automobile accident. Onidee has one granddaughter, whom she dearly loved, Heather Nutter Weaver, husband Jeremy, and three great grandsons, Zion, Tristan, and Ryker Weaver, all who live in Fredericksburg, Ohio. She is also survived by one brother David Reed, wife Jaunita, who live in Belair, Maryland. Moreover, she is survived by seventeen wonderful nieces and nephews.
In addition to her grandparents, parents, her husband Herman Nutter who passed on October 4, 2018, and her son Fred Nutter, her sister Mary Elizabeth (Reed) Vines and brother George Reed proceeded her in death. Additionally, two nephews, Brad Greenleaf of Baltimore, Maryland and David Sigman of Cedar Park, Texas are also deceased.
Onidee kept busy each day of her life. While living in Baltimore, she applied for her driver’s license, telling her husband after the fact. She drove her car up until February 25, 2025.
She loved to plant and harvest produce from their garden. Up until this last fall, she froze corn for her great grandsons, three young men whom she greatly adored. She loved to cook and bake for others, frequently helping Pam Roberts by preparing meals for her dear friends, Rev. Ronzel and Leona Roberts and their son Terry. She crocheted numerous afghans and provided those to friends and family. She embroidered, loved to complete Bible word search puzzles, but most of all, she loved reading her Bible.
Onidee had been a devoted Christian since 1939. She was an active member of the Little Kanawha Independent Church at Burnsville, WV since 1980. She loved her church, and the people that attended there. She was a daily witness of Christ’s redeeming love and His salvation! Even though she lived alone after her husband’s passing, she always said she was never afraid, not lonely, because God was always with her. Onidee loved to encourage others by mailing them cards and by calling them. She also routinely visited people in the hospital and nursing homes, sharing God’s love and her love with all she met. This was her ministry, especially in her later years.
A funeral service will be conducted at the Little Kanawha Independent Church, 1259 Burnsville Road (WV Highway 5) Burnsville, WV; 26335 at 11:00 AM; Thursday, May 15, 2025 with Rev. Ronzel Roberts, Rev. Tim Ramsey, and Norris Belcher officiating. Burial will follow in Frederick-Gerwig Memorial Cemetery on Tom’s Run in Braxton County, WV. Friends will be received from 4:00 – 7:00 PM; Wednesday evening at Ellyson Mortuary, Inc., 2 Vanhorn Drive, Glenville, WV.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Little Kanawha Independent Church, PO Box 133, Burnsville, WV 26335.
Ellyson Mortuary, Inc., is honored to assist the family of Lillian Onidee Nutter with traditional burial arrangements.
