August 15, 1926 – July 14, 2023
Molly Whitelaw Reid died on Friday, July 14 in Victoria, BC, one month shy of her 97th birthday. She is survived by her daughter Leslie Reid, granddaughters Emily Samis (Jordan) and Lindsay Reid (Paul Klee) and great grandchildren Lily Samis and Rowan Klee. Known by Grandma and Grandmère to her grandchildren and GG to her great-grandchildren, Molly is predeceased by her husband Rev. Alex Reid, her son Jamie Reid, and her sister Marjorie Whitelaw. She is lovingly remembered by her many nieces and nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews, and numerous friends. Molly earned her degree in Fine Arts at Mount Allison University in 1947. She married Alex (Sandy) Reid in 1948, a marriage that was to last 68 years. She and Alex had a well-travelled life as he was both a United Church minister and a Padre. Army postings took the couple to Camp Borden (NS), Victoria (BC), Camp Petawawa (ON), Germany, Camp Georgetown (NB), North Bay (ON), Greenwood (NS), Winnipeg (MA), and St. Hubert (QC). Upon retirement from the forces, Alex had ministerial postings in Gibson’s (BC), Burnaby (BC) and Victoria (BC), which became the couple’s home for the rest of their lives. Throughout her life, Molly was active as an artist and designer. While living with her family in Germany, she designed a number of rooms for the Canadian Government. She exhibited in Germany and in Canada as well as having had several one-person shows in both Scotland and Canada. The stained-glass windows in the chapel of the former St. Aidan’s United Church (Victoria) are her designs as well as the stained-glass window in the United Church in Sechelt. She was an active member of the Saanich Peninsula Arts and Crafts Society and the Community Arts Council of Greater Victoria. Molly continued to paint both landscapes and portraits in various media into her 90s. In her final years, when her health began to falter, Molly continued to take an active interest in people, events, new gadgets (she was a whiz with her iPhone!), and politics. She was an avid storyteller, a wise elder and, above all, a gracious lady. She leaves behind her a legacy of nearly a century of living. She will be missed.
A celebration of Molly’s life will take place on September 9th at 2 pm at First Metropolitan United Church Chapel, Victoria, BC. Donations in Molly’s name may be made to: Mount Allison University (Friends of the Owens Fund) OR Broadmead Care Society, Victoria, BC (Veterans Memorial Lodge or Veterans Health Center).