Gerald Harris Reid

Gerald Harris Reid, known by most as Jerry, 89, of Longview Washington, went home to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on December 15th, 2025. He was born on May 17th, 1936, in Lake Toxaway, North Carolina, to Samuel Welch and Eva Miller Reid.

Jerry was a talented Machinist who worked for and retired from, Weyerhaeuser, after more than 30 years of dedicated service. During his younger years he worked as a logger, and also served his country for 11 years, in the Naval Reserves.

More than his professional career, Jerry loved his family. He married his beloved wife, Nancy B. Williams Reid, on August 13, 1956, and together they built and shared a life together, centered on their love and dedication to God, their children and their church family. He was a devoted father to his sons, Tim, Rick, Lee and daughter, Laurie. Jerry and Nancy were also foster parents to many, from infants to teenagers, who kept in contact for many years. It was Jerry’s life’s goal to teach his children about God and that each of them would have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

Jerry enjoyed the outdoors, and loved to spend time with family, hunting and fishing. There were many hunting trips that built great memories of fun with extended family and usually ended up with putting meat on the table. He also had a fondness for snow skiing. On one particular skiing trip, his pastor and friend, told Jerry he need to learn how to fall. And in classic Reid fashion, he promptly replied, “I came up here to ski, not to learn how to fall”. Well, As luck would have it, later that day another skier cut in front of Jerry, and not having learned how to properly fall, he slid out of control, crashed spectacularly, and broke a leg! Perhaps learning how to fall would have come in handy after all. But, also in Reid fashion, he was not deterred and continued Skiing for many years to come.

If you knew Jerry, one thing became abundantly clear, he loved the Lord with his whole heart, and it wasn’t long before he was sharing that love with anyone who would listen, and most likely with some who wouldn’t. He didn’t care who, he didn’t care where, one thing was sure, he was going to share. In fact, his love for sharing, and serving, led him to spending many Saturday evenings, preaching at an old mission, on a street loaded with more taverns than anything else, that was located on the old West Main Street in Kelso. Several years later, Jerry was the associate pastor, at Zion Christian Center, where he served for several years. In his home church, Abernathy Assembly of God, where Jerry served on the church board, you could find him playing his harmonica during worship. He continued to do this, even up to just a few days, before being called to Heaven, for a great reunion with family and friends, who had gone before.

Jerry is survived by his wife, Nancy, of 69 1/2 years; brother Burt Reid (wife Terry); children Rick Reid (Wife Joan), Lee Reid (wife Kelly), Laurie Fraser, and Daughter-in-law Pam Reid; grandchildren, Dustin Reid, Katie Anderson, Michelle McVey, Nichole Boaglio, Lindsay Letteer, Tyler Reid, Jodi Reid, Adam Hislop, Blake Fraser; there are also included many great-grandchildren and close family friends. He was preceded in death by brothers, Ronald Reid, Ross Reid, Allen Reid, Samuel Reid, and sister Nelda Moyer. He was also preceded in death by his oldest son, Gerald T. Reid.

Jerry will be greatly missed and leaves a big hole in his absence. However, Heaven is rejoicing in his arrival, and there is a wonderful and exciting reunion happening, even now. All our love, till we meet again.

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