In Memory Of

John Clayton Reid

May 17, 1949 - Apr 8, 2025

Service

Monday, April 14, 2025
1:00 pm
Church of the Nazarene
5340 59 Ave
Rocky Mountain House, Alberta

Notice

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100085526643060 In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Rocky Health Foundation, the Brain Tumor Foundation of Canada, or the charity of your choice.

Obituary

John Clayton Reid was born May 17th, 1949 in Rocky Mountain House, Alberta to John and Norma Reid, who were farming in the Beaver Flat district. Sisters Leona and Bev soon joined the family. They grew up in a home without running water and – until John was 12 – without electricity. From age four, John’s job was to chop kindling for the wood stove.

John was in the first year of kids to be bussed into Rocky, rather than attending the one-room school at Beaver Flats. Not having been exposed to many other children before this, John caught one illness after another and missed seven weeks at the beginning of grade one.

John graduated from high school in 1967 and attended Red Deer College for a year before transferring to the University of Alberta in Edmonton. At university, John made life-long friends who became like brothers. For two years, several of them shared a house in the McKernan neighbourhood.

John met Donna Jackson at a dance when she was 17. They re-connected while square dancing at “Bar None” – a charity fundraiser and have been together ever since.

After graduating with a Bachelor of Agriculture in Animal Science and Economics in May 1971, John began work as an assistant district agriculturist – first in Fairview (seven hours northwest of Edmonton) and then in Peace River. John drove to Edmonton twice a month until Donna convocated in May. They were married three days later, on June 3rd, 1972, and moved into their first home together – a converted garage on the west side of the Peace River. They took a delayed honeymoon the following year, travelling to Denmark and Sweden.

After moving to Manning, where Donna and John both worked in the department of agriculture, they welcomed their first daughter, Tara, in May of 1975. A few years later they returned to Peace River, where Amy was born in January of 1978.

The family moved to the Rocky area when John’s father’s health declined in 1980. They purchased a quarter section of land a mile from where John had grown up, built their home, and began raising crops and cattle.

In central Alberta, John’s professional work was dominated by his contributions to the Farm Debt Mediation Service, where he worked for nearly three decades. He drove to every corner of the province to meet with farm families who were deciding whether to keep their farms. His pride in being able to help people find a solution was matched by his compassion for farmers who were struggling. He received many letters from clients who appreciated that he gave them hope and let them see that they still had options.

John was very engaged in community organizations and projects. He relished the opportunity to share what he knew from the farm with others, particularly as he moved towards intensive grazing practices and improving soil health. When John was asked, in his seventies, about when he was going to retire, he replied, “This is my retirement.” He wanted to farm as long as he could, and until last year, he did.

In July of 2024, John was diagnosed with glioblastoma, an incurable form of brain cancer. This was a shock, as John was the fittest 75-year-old anyone knew, and was still actively farming and doing consultant work. He was brave and matter of fact about the challenges he faced and remained so until the end.

John is survived by his loving wife of 52 years, Donna; his children, Tara Reid and Amy (Tyler) McKinnon; his beloved grandchildren, Finn and Maya; his sister, Leona, and many siblings-in-law, aunts, cousins, nieces, nephews, and extended family. He is predeceased by his sister, Beverly Spencer.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Rocky Health Foundation, the Brain Tumor Foundation of Canada, or the charity of your choice.
LIVE STREAM TO BE FOUND AT Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100085526643060

Condolences may be forwarded to www.rockyfuneralhome.ca.

Rocky and Sylvan Lake Funeral Homes and Crematorium, your Golden Rule Funeral Homes, entrusted with the arrangements.

Condolences

Randall Sugden:

A fine man. Gone too soon.
You're families are in my prayers.

Rick & Bev Emmons:

Dear Tyler, Amy, Finn, and Maya;
we are so sorry for your loss. John always had a smile and a kind word. May God give you all strength. John will be missed by all those who had the pleasure to know him.
Sincerely,
Rick & Bev Emmons

Marilyn & Morey Madsen:

Dear Donna,
I'm so sorry to hear of your loss of John. My thoughts & best wishes are with you, although I understand how futile those words are right now - only time. Do remember to take care of yourself.
Marilyn (Saum)

Karen Hoover:

Thinking of you all. Donna and John together helped me get started as a District Home Economist with Alberta Agriculture. They became fast friends from then.

I wish Donna, Tara and Amy and their family, a time to catch their breaths, a time to grieve their loss and a time to hold tight onto each other.

My heart is with you.

Kathy Murch :

My sincerest sympathies to his friends and families. A vibrant man gone too soon.

Bowen Family:

Our condolences to all the Reid family . May John rest in peace.

Annette Gray:

Dear Donna, I have such good memories of visiting you and John. We first knew John from seeing his big smile at Edward's Garage family get-togethers when his dad worked for Clayton. He was a super good kid and always a joy to be around. God bless you as you face the challenges ahead. Annette and the Gray family.

Linda Tomlinson:

Condolences, Such a vibrant person that has accomplished so much. Hugs

Jeannie (Martin) Hounslow :

Condolences to Donna, and Reid , families: may the good memories of a great man give you strength and peace.
I cherish dad's carving on the shed John so carefully cut out and gave to us: such a thoughtful, caring and special gesture we will always appreciate and remember.

Dean Ross. :

Condolences to all the families of John. Blessed be the good times that are in your memories. Remember them always

Murray and Betty Green:

We were saddened to hear from a colleague of John's from his work in the Peace River, of John illness and passing. I, too worked with John in agriculture and was always impressed by his kind and gentle association with everyone. I lost touch with John and Donna after leaving the Peace, but his personal traits served to help many farmers and ranchers in Alberta. Our hearts go out to Donna and family.

Morna Ferguson:

Wasn't it great that John got here to Scotland in 2022. I remember how ....as a farmer,,,, he rose early and walked my dog before I even surfaced.
He and Donna were great guests and I got them to most of the important places associated with the Reids....including the house many of them left in 1912 for Canada.
Having connected with a few branches of the family it has been wonderful to get to know...' the folk from Rocky Mountain House'
THANK YOU
'Cousin' Morna

Gail Horth:

Rest in Peace cousin, and thanks for all the geneology, your research and sharing. Thinking of you Donna and family,

Greg Pohl and Barb Deneka:

Our condolences to Donna and the Reid and Jackson families. John was a wonderful man who touched so many. We're happy to have the privilege of meeting John; it was always a treat to talk to him and find out what project or experiment he was pursuing. A man of so many talents and so much energy, and so much joy shared with others.

Bill Teskey:

John was my best friend from the time we met in Grade 5. Together we went through Grades 5 to 12 in Rocky, then 1 year at Red Deer College, then 3 years at U of A. After U of A, we went in different directions - his degree
was in Agriculture, my my degree was in Civil Engineering - but we always maintained contact.

John and Donna were the driving forces behind the 50th Anniversary of the 1967 Class Reunion. As with everything else they did together, it was a great success.

My sincere condolences to daughters Tara & Amy, grandchildren Finn & Maya, and sister Leona.

Ian and Elaine McDermid:

Thank you for keeping in touch. We appreciate the thoughtfulness and caring that was always presented when we visited. Many happy visits with both of you. You have gone through so much in the last few years. There will be days of sunshine again but right now, we are all sending thoughts of peace and recovery to all family members.

George and Pat McLaughlin:

John was a gentleman and a gentle man.
May all your happy memories of John give you strength and courage at this time.
Please accept our sincere condolences.

Stewart Stephanson:

Donna and family.
Still trying to get my head wrapped around the passing of John .
Reconnected at the function that honoured the
Mazza family.
My first memory of John, was a young summer student working for the Forest Service in Rocky
( in the era, I was employed in Forest Comms )
The night of the Mazza Function, we were reminiscing of those days.
Also many memories of days attending memorial church at the same time.
My sincere Condolences to all the family .
Stewart

Marie Cermak:

To Donna and all the Reid families, we would like to express our condolences on your loss of John
Corey and Marie

Meryl and Brian Beisiegel:

John was kind, quiet and thoughtful. He would talk with you one on one even when you hadn't seen him for a while.
Donna our thoughts are with you.

Carolyn N.:

Always--a warm smile; once--a bouquet of pussywillows. Happy trails John.

Barry & Lesly Stranaghan:

Our deepest condolences to Donna & family.

Margurite Thiessen:

My Sympathies to Donna and family.

Linda and Wesley Thomas:

Sincere condolences to the family. Love and hugs! RIP John

Rex King:

John was a true gentleman. It was always a pleasure to meet and talk with him. We reconnected in Rocky in the 80s.
He was very knowledgeable and I always learned something. I'll miss that wonderful smile and positive demeanor.
Condolences to his family...

Fern Richardson:

Donna and family, so sorry to hear of John's passing. I know Roger had a great deal of respect for John both personally and professionally. My thoughts are with you all as you navigate your "new normal" without John by your sides.
Fern Richardson

Donna Hunley :

To Donna and all the family. So sorry for your loss. Take care. Healing takes time

Donna Rudd:

My deepest condolances to Donna and family. Johns legacy will continue on through his family and friends and all those he assisted over the years. He was a true gentleman.

Rick & Rhonda Reynaud:

Donna & family
We were so sorry to hear this. John had the most brilliant smile.
Sending sincere sympathy.

Sylvia and Italo Pedrazzini:

We always enjoyed visiting with John whenever we met him. He had many interests and many interesting things to say. We were sorry to hear of his passing and are thinking of you, Donna and your family.

David Ness:

This guy will be missed by a lot of people. Our thoughts are with you, Donna.

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