Cynthia “Cyndi” Ann (Weaver) Reynolds (76) passed away on Thursday, August 8, 2024. Cyndi was born on August 30, 1947 in Stillwater, Oklahoma to Virginia Eileen (Kirkpatrick) and James Elbert Weaver.
After graduating from McClain Senior High School in Tulsa, OK in 1965, she entered into the United States Air Force. She was the first female to enlist in the Air Force in Oklahoma in 1966. While attending basic training in San Antonio, TX, she met her future husband, James “Jimmy” Donald Reynolds. They were married on November 19, 1966 at Randolph Air Force Base. They had two children, Sheila Marie and James Harold. Cyndi first moved to Hiawatha in 1967 before moving to Illinois and then returning to Hiawatha permanently in 1978.
Cyndi is most recognized in the community for her long career in law enforcement. She joined the Hiawatha Police Department Reserves in 1979 and became a full-time dispatcher for the P.D. in 1980. In 1981, she moved to a full-time patrol officer position. Keeping in the tradition of defying tradition, she was the first female police officer sworn in in Northeast Kansas. She served in that role until November 1987. From 1988-1990, she took a break from law enforcement and was employed at Tice Health Mart as a pharmacy tech. She decided that once she could decipher the doctor’s handwriting on prescriptions without any difficulty, it might be time to make a change. In May 1990, she began working at Brown County Sheriff’s Department as a dispatcher. While there, she served as the Communications Sergeant from 1992-2007. Much to many officers’ dismay, she finished out her career on midnight shift (it rarely seemed to be quiet when 735 was dispatching). She retired from Brown County S.O. on August 1, 2012. Following retirement, she worked at both the Kickapoo Tribe and Sabetha P.D. part time. Cyndi was also a member of the very first crew of Brown County Squad 48 as well as served as a first responder for Town and Country Ambulance.
She loved watching the Kansas City Chiefs, Kansas City Royals, and Kansas State Wildcats, spending time with her great grand “babies” and visiting the farm to check on the goats.
She was proceeded in death by her parents, husband, and daughter Sheila.
She is survived by son James (Cindy) Reynolds of Falls City, NE; granddaughter Ashleigh (Adam) Eickhoff of Falls City, NE; granddaughter Samantha Reynolds of Falls City, NE; grandson David Reynolds of Falls City, NE; and great-grandchildren Hudson, Harlow, Malakai, Harrison, and Charlotte.
A celebration of Cyndi’s life is planned for 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, August 21, at Chapel Oaks Funeral Home, Hiawatha. Shane Spangler will officiate. Private inurnment will be at Hiawatha Cemetery. Military honors a courtesy of the Brown County Veterans Honor Guard.
Friends may call at the funeral home Monday where the family will visit Tuesday evening from 5 until 7.
