Football player Ashton Reed is grieving after an early-morning house fire on Oct. 31 claimed the lives of his mother, Sue Ellen Workman, and his youngest brother, Easton Workman.
The small community of Oceana, Wyoming County, is in absolute shock and rallying around Ashton and the rest of the family as they try to come to terms with the sudden loss due to a tragic accident.
Friends and neighbors say Sue Ellen was a devoted mother who never missed a game or school event, and Easton was a bright, energetic kid who seemed to know everyone in town.
Easton, like his older brother, Ashton, loved sports. He played youth basketball and wore #33 on his teams, and he also played in the Oceana Little League.
He even stepped into the ring at a recent community event and left an impression on everyone who saw him sparring: full of heart, zero hesitation.
An Unimaginable Loss
People recall small, everyday moments that now carry heavy meaning: a Taco Bell run, a candy bar promised and kept, a perfectly styled Mohawk, and a grin that lit up rooms.
The outpouring of support has been immediate. Local groups arranged for the care of Sue Ellen and Easton’s animals, bringing their goats and ducks to the Safe Haven Animal Sanctuary so the animals would have a permanent, peaceful home.
Westside Youth Football and other local leagues have organized tributes; one planned gesture is to light the field so it can be seen from above, a visible sign of solidarity in a tight-knit town.
A candlelight vigil is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 1, at 7:30 p.m. at Glen Fork Elementary & Middle School, and community members are encouraging anyone who knew the family to come and pay their respects.
Ashton’s friends and former coaches described him as a fierce competitor on the field and a familiar face around local gyms and community events.
He played high school football for Westside and went on to play at the collegiate level, spending time with Concord University and Fairmont State during his college football career.
Teammates and gym staff say Ashton has always been part of the community’s athlete roll call, and now those same people are wrapping him in support as he faces this unimaginable grief.
Longtime friends shared memories of family gatherings, Little League games, and everyday kindnesses from Sue Ellen, the kind of neighbor who showed up and helped without being asked.
Kimberly Brooks wrote, “Our hearts are absolutely shattered!!! To know Easton was to love him. He always had a smile on his face that lit up the room… and he always had that Mohawk fixed perfectly. lol. Rest easy, little buddy. You were loved beyond measure and you won’t be forgotten. Sue Ellen never missed a function with Easton.”
Beth Lusk added, “My heart is broken. We were the first friends to visit Sue & Amanda after Easton was born. They were so excited.. Sue was beyond excited to have a little boy. He was always so precious. & Sue was the best Mom to him. Everything sports she loved all her life, but she took so much joy in watching him play. We just saw them at homecoming.”
Coaches, parents, and teammates describe Easton as a kid with a spark, the sort who would have kept giving his all in every sport he tried.
