Fern Louise Reid, 97

Fern Louise Reid died peacefully and went to be with her Lord and Savior on Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2016, at the age of 97. She was born in Oakland, California, to Samuel and Loretta Grace Goldspring on Nov. 30, 1918.

Fern graduated from University High School in Oakland and continued on to Merritt Business College. After graduating, she worked for two different loan companies until she married William “Bill” Lysle Reid on June 17, 1939. They had a son, William Lysle Reid II, on Nov. 14, 1942.

Fern’s husband Bill felt the call to the ministry in 1944 and they moved to Redlands, California, where her husband got his degree at the University of Redlands. While at the university, Fern studied organ and became an accomplished musician, not only on the organ but was very talented on the piano as well which she had been playing since the age of 9. She became the organist for the States Street Christian Church and the First Presbyterian Church.

During this time, her second son, David Lawrence Reid, was born, but due to a birth defect he passed away a month later. After her husband graduated, they moved to Berkeley, California, where Bill completed his education at the Berkeley Baptist Divinity School.

Fern was a very active pastor’s wife, assisting her husband by typing all his sermons and leading choirs at all their churches to playing the piano and organ. Together they founded the Pleasant Hill Community Baptist Church in Pleasant Hill, California. They then continued on to Issaquah, Seattle, Prosser and Pasco, Washington, where her husband pastored Baptist churches. They then moved to Kalispell in 1970 to pastor the First Baptist Church. She also was an active member of the Montana Federation of Music Clubs for 31 years. After her husband retired, they continue to live in Kalispell where he died in 1986.

Fern worked for JCPenney for 14 years, winning many sales awards and was a supervisor selling Shaklee products for 31 years. She then was able to do some traveling, going to Thailand, India, Hong Kong and China with American Baptist Mission Society in 1988. She went on many tours with Montana Tour and Travel which she helped to organize.

Fern moved to McMinnville, Oregon, in 2001 to be near family. She became an active member of Bethel Baptist Church and organized a new chapter of the Red Hat Club.

Fern is survived by her son Bill, daughter-in-law Judy, grandchildren Ron Reid, Stephanie Wilder, Steve Reid and his wife Robin. Also surviving are her great-granddaughters, Brittany Trent, Courtney Reid, Melea and Abby Wilder, and twin great-great-grandsons Rylen and Daylen Bates. Fern is also survived by her sister Ruth Tosh, and many other nieces and nephews in California.

A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 23, at Baker Creek Community Church in McMinnville.

Memorial contributions may be made to Baker Creek Community Church. To leave online condolences, visit www.macyandson.com.