Lorraine Cora Reid

Lorraine Cora (Stearns) Reid, passed away on July 17, 2023. She was two months shy of her 96th birthday. Lorraine was born on October 3, 1927 in Chelan, WA. She was the fourth child of Arthur Clifford Stearns and Annie Darling McLeod. When her parents separated in 1929, her mother relocated with the children to Bellingham, WA. On New Year’s Eve, 1943, Lorraine met Mell Keith Reid, who was serving in the Navy and stationed at Whidbey Island. On the condition that she complete high school, her mother gave her blessing for Lorraine and Mell to marry on August 24, 1944. Mell was quickly deployed to the Pacific theater of WWII but was able to quickly return at the war’s end. They remained together for 67 years until Mell passed in 2012. Together they had four children: Linda, Ron, Debbie, and Keith.

Early in their marriage, Lorraine joined the faith of Mell’s upbringing, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She served that church community in various capacities, including as a Stake Relief Society President, a worker in the Seattle Temple, a dedicated visiting teacher, and an Employment Specialist Service Missionary with Mell. Lorraine had many hobbies and interests. She enjoyed square dancing, camping, beachcombing for agates, collecting music boxes, miniature lighthouses, and Christmas North Pole decorations, volunteering as an election poll worker, selling Avon products, oil painting, watching Seattle Mariners baseball, and working for a number of years in her son Ron’s cabinet shop. Any who played board games or cards with her can attest that, despite her quiet demeanor, Lorraine was a ferocious and competitive opponent.

Lorraine’s first and most lasting love was her family. She was a caring matriarch to the generations that followed her four children, including 12 grandchildren, and 29 great-grandchildren. She is survived by all. They, and the many friends and community members she influenced over her 95 years, will miss Lorraine dearly.

Memorials in her honor may be sent to Whatcom Hospice Foundation, who provided 18 months of attentive, loving, and dedicated care to Lorraine: https://whatcomhospice.org/donate/ .

A graveside service will be held at 1:00pm on Friday, July 28th at Woodlawn Cemetery in Ferndale, followed by a memorial service at 3:00pm at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints chapel, 2925 James St. Bellingham, WA.