Reid Reunion 2008

 

James Patrick Lea Reid was born to Leander and Florence (Turner) Reid on March 22nd, 1922. The third and first son of a family of five children, Lea, at an early age knew all about hard work on the family farm.

Lea completed grade 10 at Stanley Bridge School where he excelled at math, but had little enthusiasm for other subjects. Later he took a course in mechanics,which he loved,which later proved very valuable.Leander was a Massey Harris dealer, and Lea assembled and serviced the machines sold by his father.

In 1947, Lea met Marion Doyle at a dance at St. Ann’s School. Marion was teaching at Hope River School. They dated and on June 29th, 1949, they were married at Stella Maris Church, North Rustico.

Lea and Marion settled in at their ancestral home, which had been vacated by Lea’s parents. The farming operation meant a very busy life, however, Marion was brought up on a farm and she too was no stranger to hard work.

Life was about to get much busier with the arrival, on August 1st, 1950 of twin girls, Maureen and Colleen. Kevin, Bethany, Mary lea, David, Andy and Tracy completed the family.

Lea loved machines. In 1954 he bought one of the first grain combines to come to P.E.I, a ten foot self propelled Lea custom combined with the machine for fifteen years.In 1954 the price for custom work was $5.00 per acre. He acquired a new diesel tractor in 1959. Hydraulic discs, plow, and harrows made cultivation easier. Lea helped his father and brother, Robert, in their family operation.

A good athlete, Lea played league hockey. Later he took up golf and played at Green Gables golf course. He enjoyed trout fishing with the children.

Lea was active in church and community. He was a fourth degree member of the Knights of Columbus. He served as a school trustee of Stanley Bridge School, and was of the Stanley Bridge Rink Association. Lea was a member of the Provincial Executive of the Conservative party and attended national conventions in Ottawa.

In 1970, due to a lung condition, Lea quit actively farming and took a machinist course. He worked in Charlottetown at this trade until 1978.

Lea enjoyed life especially card games of auction, and visiting people and telling stories. He inherited his father’s gift of mimicry and was an entertaining raconteur. He was comfortable with people from all walks of life, whether it was at Government House, the local garage, on the wharf with the fisherman or at Rideau Hall in Ottawa. He will be remembered for his hearty laugh, his good humour and for seldom if ever changing his mind.

In August 1995, Lea was diagnosed with cancer. In 1998 the cancer had spread to his bones. He was cared for by Marion and his children, two of whom, Colleen and Mary Lea, were nurses. Lea was very accepting of his sickness and an easy-to-care for patient. Lea was visited regularly by his pastors Father MacDougal and Father Trainer. Dr. Kent Ellis made house calls, which enabled Lea to remain at home.

Lea received his wish to die at home in the house in which he had been born. On July 6th, 1999, he quietly died. A piper played as his earthly remains were laid to rest in St. Anne’s Cemetery in Hope River.

Daniel Leo Mullen

Daniel Leo Mullen was born on November 04, 1904 in Frenchfort, PEI, the son of Edward Mullen and Jane Hughes. While attending school in Dunstaffnage and later in Glenroy, Dan worked with his father, a well-known carpenter.

In 1923-24 he attended Prince of Wales College where he earned his teacher’s license. He taught for one year at Ten Mile House and then went to Boston where he continued to work at carpentry work and later in a piano and clock case shop. At night he continued his education at the Boston Technical College where he took courses in drafting and engineering.

After returning home in 1934, he taught for one year at Tarantum School before deciding to build his own service station and to sell cars. He and his father built his first garage; it opened for business in 1935. On July 13, 1937, he married Annie Kathleen MacDonald and settled in Mount Stewart where they raised three daughters and a son.

As a hobby, Dan built a large enclosed snowmobile and later a pleasure boat. He continued to run a garage and sell cars until 1961 when he returned to teaching. He taught Industrial Arts at Birchwood Junior High until his retirement in 1964. Although he taught adult continuing education and community school, and was an original member of the senior citizens’ club, his favourite pastime in his retirement was woodcarving and marquetry. He was an early member of the PEI Craftsmen’s Council and his carvings are still enjoyed by friends and family.

Dan was a strong family man and a well-liked and well-respected member of his church and his community. Dan died of cancer on April 14, 1974; burial was in Saint Andrew’s Cemetery. His wife survives him.

REID, Louis

- Born May 16, 1919 to Joseph Reid and Flora Reid ( O’Connor ) Hope River, PEI. Louis attended Stanley Bridge School. He worked on the family farm until he married Isabel Reid, daughter of Leander and Florence Reid of Hope River, on November 27, 1944.

They then moved to Millvale P.E.I. where Louis ran a lumber mill. In 1950 they moved to Havelock, N.B. where he worked as a foreman for Canada Cement. In 1957 they moved to Picton, Ontario where Louis was a Foreman for L.O.P.C. Cement. In 1962 he moved again with his family to Toronto, Ontario where Louis worked as a superintendent for a large construction company. After moving to Toronto they bought a home in Toronto and a cottage on Rice Lake and spent most weekends and summers there until they sold it a few years ago. After he retired they moved to Omemee, Ontario and built a house overlooking Pigeon Lake, where they reside today.

Louis is a member of the Knights of Columbus in Ennismore, Ontario. On his retirement Louis returned to his love of carpentry making pieces of furniture for his children and grandchildren. Everyone has a clock made of wood that he made on his lathe in the garage.

Louis & Isabel spend every summer on the Island in Hope River. They have 7 children, Gary, Helen, Ann, Roger, Roland, Douglas and Katherine, who all reside in Ontario. He also has 12 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren.

REID, ISABEL

- Born February 26, 1921 in Hope River, P E.I. to Leander Reid and Florence Reid (Turner). Isabel attended Stanley Bridge School until Grade 8. She then attended South Rustico Convent School. She went on to Prince of Wales College in Charlottetown, while boarding at Notre Dame Convent and received her teaching degree. She taught at Stanley Bridge School for 1 year and then worked in Amherst, N.S. for Canada Car during the war. She married Louis Reid on November 27, 1944 and lived on Louis’ family home in Hope River. Their first son, Gary, was born there on January 2, 1946.

They then moved to Millvale, P.E.I... After living in Summerside for 2 years, they moved to Havelock, N.B in 1950 and in 1957 to Picton, Ontario. In 1962 they moved to Toronto, Ontario. Isabel returned to teaching ands taught school there until she semi- retired to teach in Peterborough, Ontario. They built a house overlooking Pigeon Lake near Omemee, Ontario and Isabel taught as a supply teacher in Peterborough until she finally retired in 1986. Isabel enjoyed doing crafts such as stained glass, macrame and making many beautiful quilts for her family.

Isabel and Louis spend their summers on P.E.I. on property they bought from her parents old farm in Hope River. Isabel raised 7 children, Gary, Helen, Ann, Roger, Roland, Douglas and Katherine, who all live in Ontario They have 12 grandchildren and 2 great grand children.