John C. Reid
May 17, 1949 – April 8, 2025

John Clayton Reid was born May 17, 1949, in Rocky Mountain House, Alta., 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 Flat. 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 3, 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 Tumour Foundation of Canada, or the charity of your choice.

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.