Obituary for Gary Don Reid
From the thrill of throwing a great fastball on the mound to the feel of tires on the road of a giant bus taking him to beautiful places in this world, it was the life of Gary Don Reid. Gary Don Reid, 72, of Waco, went to meet his heavenly father and be united with his earthly father on May 26, 2021. He was also reunited with his dear wife Carolyn Ewing Reid and brother William Texas Reid Jr. He was saved at a revival and baptized in his pre-teen years by Rev. A.M. Stone at North Waco Baptist Church.
Gary's family will receive friends from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Tuesday, June 1, 2021, at Oak Crest Funeral Home.
Funeral Services are at 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, June 2, 2021, at Oakcrest Chapel, with Pastor Buddy Sipe and Jason Featherston officiating. His burial will follow at Waco Memorial Park.
On March 20, 1949, Gary was born at Waco Hillcrest Hospital to William Texas Reid Sr. and Mildred Hommel Reid. Growing up, he loved fast race cars and baseball. He started playing little league baseball at the Lake Air baseball fields as soon as he was old enough to play. Gary attended his first professional baseball game with his father in May 1962 when the Colt 45's played St. Louis at Colt Stadium. Gary grew up with a glove on his left hand and a baseball in his right hand. He played four years of varsity Baseball at Richfield High School. After his high school graduation, Gary received multiple scholarships to play baseball and attended McLennan Community College. He was a relief pitcher with a rocket for an arm. He played baseball for the Waco Missions Club. Much of his time was spent at his second job at Reid Brothers Service Station, located on 25th street and Bosque. He had much love for all sports & cars, especially his beloved Houston Astros & his 1965 Convertible 7- liter Ford Galaxy.
Gary attended and graduated from the Dallas Umpire School, which he loved doing, but decided to take a job with the Greyhound Bus Lines. He traveled the North American continent for the next 38 years. Gary drove 3.5 million miles accident-free, delivering happy travelers safely to thousands of destinations. Gary would take his family on the bus to many locations creating lifelong memories and friends. Gary retired from Greyhound in 2007.
Gary married his first wife, Sharon Potts, and was blessed with two beautiful children, Kerri and Aaron. In 1994, he married Carolyn Ewing Martin. Gary and Carolyn enjoyed life traveling to different locations on the bus. After he retired, he and Carolyn delivered papers for the American Classified. Gary had a great love for his dog, two cats, and African Gray Parrott. He enjoyed watching his granddaughters play Buzz Fastpitch Softball.
Gary never served in the military, but he always supported American Veterans. He served as the State Chaplain for the Sons of American Veterans and Commander of Sons of Waco Post 19. He spent many hours of volunteer service at the Waco Veterans Affairs Hospital, serving meals and spending time with the veterans.
Pallbearers are Randy Hayes, Brian Martin, Kevin Kemp, Amado Arenas, Jose Ledesma, and Anthony Ramos. Honorary Pallbearers are Aaron Reid, UC "TAC" Hall, Larry Foster, Cortez Kelley, Earnest Necker, Leo Johnson, Richard Sigler, and Joe Garza.
Gary was a member of the Central Texas Bird Club for many years.
Gary served as a deacon and held several committee assignments at Grace Temple Baptist Church. He enjoyed dressing up in costumes for Vacation Bible School and always greeted everyone with a joyous smile.
Gary was preceded in death by his wife Linda Carolyn (Ewing) Reid, who passed exactly one month ago; his father, William Texas Reid Sr., and brother, William "Bill" Texas Reid Jr.; his maternal grandparents, Walter and Meta Christinia Agnes Elizabeth Freyer and paternal grandparents, William Reid and Allie Mae Brock.
Gary's survivors include his daughter, Kerri Michelle Featherston & her husband, Jason of Robinson; his son, Aaron Brooks Reid of Hewitt; stepson, Brian Martin and wife, Krista, of Hewitt & step-daughter Dorothy (Rene) Oliver Kemp and husband, Kevin of Waco. Gary is also survived by his mother, Mildred (Millie) Reid of Waco & sister, Linda Carol Reid of Harker Heights. Gary was "Pop" to 11 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren. The grandchildren include Randy Hayes, wife Kayla; Isabella, Faith, and Bre Featherston; Brianna and Emma Martin; Macy Ledesma and husband, Jose, Grant Cooper, Makayla Campbell, Christa Arenas and husband, Amado, Courtney Nolan and husband, Brian. The great-grandchildren are Rylan Hayes, Noah, Bethany, and Axel Ledesma; Railynn and Orin Nolan; and Kimberly Shelley. Gary is also survived by a niece, Kristi Reid.
In lieu of flowers, please feel free to donate to Grace Temple Baptist Church.
Gary's family will receive friends from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Tuesday, June 1, 2021, at Oak Crest Funeral Home.
Funeral Services are at 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, June 2, 2021, at Oakcrest Chapel, with Pastor Buddy Sipe and Jason Featherston officiating. His burial will follow at Waco Memorial Park.
On March 20, 1949, Gary was born at Waco Hillcrest Hospital to William Texas Reid Sr. and Mildred Hommel Reid. Growing up, he loved fast race cars and baseball. He started playing little league baseball at the Lake Air baseball fields as soon as he was old enough to play. Gary attended his first professional baseball game with his father in May 1962 when the Colt 45's played St. Louis at Colt Stadium. Gary grew up with a glove on his left hand and a baseball in his right hand. He played four years of varsity Baseball at Richfield High School. After his high school graduation, Gary received multiple scholarships to play baseball and attended McLennan Community College. He was a relief pitcher with a rocket for an arm. He played baseball for the Waco Missions Club. Much of his time was spent at his second job at Reid Brothers Service Station, located on 25th street and Bosque. He had much love for all sports & cars, especially his beloved Houston Astros & his 1965 Convertible 7- liter Ford Galaxy.
Gary attended and graduated from the Dallas Umpire School, which he loved doing, but decided to take a job with the Greyhound Bus Lines. He traveled the North American continent for the next 38 years. Gary drove 3.5 million miles accident-free, delivering happy travelers safely to thousands of destinations. Gary would take his family on the bus to many locations creating lifelong memories and friends. Gary retired from Greyhound in 2007.
Gary married his first wife, Sharon Potts, and was blessed with two beautiful children, Kerri and Aaron. In 1994, he married Carolyn Ewing Martin. Gary and Carolyn enjoyed life traveling to different locations on the bus. After he retired, he and Carolyn delivered papers for the American Classified. Gary had a great love for his dog, two cats, and African Gray Parrott. He enjoyed watching his granddaughters play Buzz Fastpitch Softball.
Gary never served in the military, but he always supported American Veterans. He served as the State Chaplain for the Sons of American Veterans and Commander of Sons of Waco Post 19. He spent many hours of volunteer service at the Waco Veterans Affairs Hospital, serving meals and spending time with the veterans.
Pallbearers are Randy Hayes, Brian Martin, Kevin Kemp, Amado Arenas, Jose Ledesma, and Anthony Ramos. Honorary Pallbearers are Aaron Reid, UC "TAC" Hall, Larry Foster, Cortez Kelley, Earnest Necker, Leo Johnson, Richard Sigler, and Joe Garza.
Gary was a member of the Central Texas Bird Club for many years.
Gary served as a deacon and held several committee assignments at Grace Temple Baptist Church. He enjoyed dressing up in costumes for Vacation Bible School and always greeted everyone with a joyous smile.
Gary was preceded in death by his wife Linda Carolyn (Ewing) Reid, who passed exactly one month ago; his father, William Texas Reid Sr., and brother, William "Bill" Texas Reid Jr.; his maternal grandparents, Walter and Meta Christinia Agnes Elizabeth Freyer and paternal grandparents, William Reid and Allie Mae Brock.
Gary's survivors include his daughter, Kerri Michelle Featherston & her husband, Jason of Robinson; his son, Aaron Brooks Reid of Hewitt; stepson, Brian Martin and wife, Krista, of Hewitt & step-daughter Dorothy (Rene) Oliver Kemp and husband, Kevin of Waco. Gary is also survived by his mother, Mildred (Millie) Reid of Waco & sister, Linda Carol Reid of Harker Heights. Gary was "Pop" to 11 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren. The grandchildren include Randy Hayes, wife Kayla; Isabella, Faith, and Bre Featherston; Brianna and Emma Martin; Macy Ledesma and husband, Jose, Grant Cooper, Makayla Campbell, Christa Arenas and husband, Amado, Courtney Nolan and husband, Brian. The great-grandchildren are Rylan Hayes, Noah, Bethany, and Axel Ledesma; Railynn and Orin Nolan; and Kimberly Shelley. Gary is also survived by a niece, Kristi Reid.
In lieu of flowers, please feel free to donate to Grace Temple Baptist Church.