Reed, Lyman Earl
Lyman Earl Reed
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
Folks, so sorry to hear of Dr. Reed’s passing. I appreciated him as a person and prof. We will see him again when it’s our turn to go into the Lord’s presence.
Our sincere sympathy to you Dorothy, and to your family. We know he is present with our Savior & may you be comforted by the memories you share as well as our hope of once again being re-united. I especially like that in later years his passion & prayers for missions never waned. May you feel God’s presence wrapping you in His loving care.
In 1962 I Jerry Wibberly was a student at Columbia Bible College seeking God’s leading as to where my wife and I would serve the Lord. God somehow arranged that I took Lefty’s Linguistic class. Lefty taught us 10 sentences of Thai which was possibly God’s hint, because three years later my wife and I were in Thailand studying the Thai language. I never forgot the part that Lefty played in God’s directing us to serve Him for the next 35 years in that land.
I remember meeting Lefty at 1058 Avenue Road, Toronto, when we were at Candidate Course in the early 80’s. I remember his clear welcoming smile and warm handshake and encouraging words. I was encouraged to read in the obit that he had worked with the Shan, a work that continues today. When we came to the US from working in Thailand for 17 years to mobilize with OMF sTeve would take seminary students for 6 week summer trips to support the Shan team by doing ethnographic research among the Shan in Thailand and Myanmar. Such a blessing to know Lefty was one of the pioneers for Christ among them.
“How good is the God we adore, our faithful unchangeable friend, Whose love is as great as His power and knows neither measure nor end. Tis Jesus the First and the Last, Whose Spirit shall guide us safe home. We will praise Him for all that is past and trust Him for all that’s to come.”
Dorothy, Leonard, Ron and Ben,
May you find comfort in the knowledge that Lefty has fought the good fight, finished the race and kept the faith, and that there is prepared for him a crown of righteousness (2 Tim. 4:7-8). May your grieving be tempered by the sure hope of reunion with him fully restored and free in the Saviour’s presence.
Dear Dorothy and family,
Our deepest condolences to you on the passing of Lefty. But also our rejoicing as He is home with Jesus!
He was a fine man of godly character who impressed on us as we met at OMF prayer meetings in your home Dorothy the power and importance of prayer in missions, for the work and the missionaries. You both influenced us greatly to keep our prayer supporters well informed, which was one of my great joys when we served in Thailand. the Kingdom of God is still growing there, to God be the glory.
Jennifer and Bill Crowder
Former OMF misssionaries in Chiang Mai
Dorothy and family – I just saw the obituary for Lefty. I’m so sorry for your loss. But I rejoice that he is with his Lord and Saviour and reuniting with all who have gone before him. Watching the slide show, I remembered a couple of photos that we had from when the family was in Thailand. Give my love and greetings to the family.