Lyman Earl Reed Jr. “Lefty,” aged 92 years of Caronport, SK, passed peacefully into the presence of his Saviour at his home on Sunday, April 7th, 2024.
He was predeceased by his first wife, Jean; parents, Lyman Sr. and Ethel; brother, William; infant son, Kenneth; and son, Donald. Lefty is survived by his wife, Dorothy; sons, Leonard (Mary), Ronald (Elizabeth), and Benjamin (Marlene); 8 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren.
Lefty was born June 20th, 1931, in Acushnet, MA, USA, the first-born son of Lyman E. Sr. and Ethel May Reed. He grew up near the ocean and loved seafood. In 1938, the family suffered the severe trauma of nearly perishing and losing everything in a hurricane. He gave his heart to the Lord Jesus as a teenager at Calvary Bible Church, Westport, MA.
Lefty worked in a bank after high school then was drafted into the US Army during the Korean war. He was stationed in Japan for two years as a Chaplain’s Assistant where he committed his life to missions. He married nurse and high school sweetheart, Jean Woodland in 1954; received his BA at Columbia Bible College in SC and took language training at SIL in Oklahoma.
Lefty and Jean were OMF missionaries in Thailand for 12 years where they welcomed their four sons. He learned the Thai and Shan languages, worked in pioneer evangelism and church planting, and taught in and helped establish a small Thai Bible school. While there, God grew his desire to teach and train workers for cross-cultural ministry in North America.
Master's studies at Wheaton Graduate School reinforced that calling and brought the family to Caronport to teach bible and missions at Briercrest Bible College in 1971. Jean passed away of cancer in 1972 and Lefty married Dorothy Schultz in 1973. He received his Doctor of Missiology in 1981 from the Fuller School of World Mission and published his doctoral dissertation: Preparing Missionaries for Intercultural Communication: A Bi-cultural Approach.
From 1989–1999, Lefty and Dorothy served with OMF in Toronto, ON and from their home in Caronport.
Teaching and preaching were his delight, always willing to serve his Lord. He was a sports enthusiast, especially playing tennis and watching his sons play sports – often shooting baskets with them. Lefty enjoyed gardening and lawn care. Though frail in later years, his passion and prayers for missions never waned. He rejoiced that his children are followers of Christ and serving Him.
A Celebration of Lefty's Life will be held on Sunday, April 28th, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. in Moose Jaw Funeral Home. Blayne Banting will officiate and a private family interment will take place in Caronport Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations in Lefty’s name may be made to: Reed Memorial Bursary, Briercrest College and Seminary, 510 College Dr, Caronport, SK S0H 0S0. Arrangements are entrusted to Moose Jaw Funeral Home, 268 Mulberry Lane. Gary McDowell, Funeral Director 306-693-4550 www.moosejawfuneralhome.com
