1926 – 2020

It is with great sadness we announce the peaceful passing of Ross Allan Reid on December 22, 2020. He was a loving and caring husband, father, grandfather and uncle.  He was born May 18, 1926 on the Reid farm in the Bardal School District, Sinclair, Manitoba.  He is survived by his wife Kay, daughter Carol (Phil), sons Allan (Leila) and Paul (Lisa), grandchildren Tori, Molly, Oliver, Leo and Erin (Patrick) and great grandchild Eric, his sister Aida Kinnaird, sister-in-law Irene Reid and brother-in-law Ken Thompson.  He was predeceased by his parents Bob and Minnie Reid, his brothers Art, Ken, Lloyd, Pat, John and Bill, and his sisters Iva, Edna and Bessie.  He is also survived by his many nieces and nephews.  They all loved him and he loved them.  Ross included people in his family with ease so would want the world to know that, for family surviving him, he would include Forest, Susannah and Betty.

When Ross turned 18 and finished helping with the harvest he joined the Princess Pats Canadian Light Infantry and trained to fight in Europe.  After VE Day he volunteered for the Pacific theatre.  Fortunately he never faced combat.  He never forgot those years in the armed forces.  He was a member of the Sinclair Legion and the Vernon Legion.

After the war he worked on the family farm in Manitoba. Once the harvest was done he hopped a freight train to head to Vancouver Island where he planted trees and was mentored by a painter at the lumber camp. The painting skills would come in handy later. He returned to the farm, courted the Bardal School teacher, Kay Thompson, and they were married on October 28, 1950.  They bought land near the Reid homestead and farmed and raised their family there until 1967.

They sold the farm and moved to Vernon in the summer of 1967.  Ross worked in lumber mills for a few years, before signing on with the Vernon School District as a painter.  He retired from the School District in 1988, continuing to paint privately.

Ross was a fine craftsman in wood.  All his family cherish the many pieces of furniture he built for them.  Ross managed, supervised and worked on many renovations at his children’s homes.  He jokingly and ironically called himself Speedy Construction, but the real irony is things got done faster with him heading the crew, even into his 70’s and 80’s.  Like most farmers, he was a jack of all trades:  he could fix everything.  But, it must be said he had a heck of a time working the DVD player.

Golf was one of his passions.  During many trips his golf clubs were always with him.  He was a member of the Spallumcheen Golf Club for over 40 years and enjoyed many rounds of golf with his buddies. He was still playing regularly at age 90.  Papa always loved taking his grandchildren golfing and snuck in a stop at Dairy Queen on the way home even if it was just before supper.

He was an active member of the men’s group at Trinity United Church. One of the events he enjoyed was when the men’s group made Christmas dinner for local school children.  He loved seeing all their smiles when they came back for second and third helpings.

He was a kind and gentle man with a wonderful sense of humour who seldom said a bad word about his fellow man.  His grandchildren were his pride and joy and they reciprocated their Papa’s love.  As they would say, “Pops is the Tops.”

The family wishes to extend their thanks to the staff at Monashee Mews for their care and sensitivity in helping us to say goodbye to a loving husband, father and Papa.

We are hoping to hold a Celebration of Life at a later date.  In lieu of flowers, friends wishing to do so may make donations in memory of Ross to a food bank of your choice.

Ross will be remembered as a great person by all who knew him. May his spirit of love and kindness follow him forever.  He will be sadly missed, but never forgotten.

“If you took a cross-section of Dad’s heart, you would find the rings of a wise old tree.” (Tom Waits)