Thursday, July 5, 2012

Farewell to Jim Reid



Our beloved Brother James Luther Reid slipped into eternity on June 8, 2012 with Patti, his wife of 21 years at his bedside.  This multi-talented father of 4 and grandfather of five – who lived more than 50 years in Portland, Maine and 17 years in Las Vegas, Nevada before relocating to southern Utah in 2005 - was an artist who loved drawing and painting – particularly water color.  He was also an accomplished jazz drummer and singer, a golf fanatic, a former substitute teacher at Dixie Middle School and Dixie High School, and a recovering alcoholic who had been sober for 39 years at the time of his death.
 
Jim graduated from Maine Central Institute in 1957 and from Emerson College in 1961, then joined the U. S. Army, serving in Germany.  He was a long time member of the Kiwanis Club and an active participant in the South Portland Thaxter Theatre. His working career included ownership of an advertising agency and later Reid’s Furniture Store in South Portland.

The Reids joined the Church in 2007 after hearing the missionary lessons shortly after moving to St. George and together enjoyed five years as members of the Bloomington 7th Ward.

"The ‘hook’ for me was the lesson on the pre-existence," Jim said of his conversion. "What they told me just made sense . . . there was a beginning, there is a middle and there will be something even more wonderful on the other side when this life ends!"

As his health deteriorated he was unable to attend Church on a regular basis, but remained constant in his faith in Jesus Christ and particularly in that “something wonderful” waiting for him on the other side. 

Brother Jim will always be remembered for his talent and unwavering good humor, despite debilitating health issues in the last few years of his life.  Condolences to Patti and to the other members of Jim’s family! 

1 comment:

  1. I'm very sad he was a great man i remember when i sat by him in church and we would draw pictures to eachother. I'm so sorry for his loss.

    ReplyDelete