Thomas Dean Reid

Thomas "Tom" Dean Reid
September 19, 1945 - April 14, 2021

Thomas "Tom" Dean Reid, - a teacher to hundreds, a mentor to many and a friend to all, passed away on April 14, 2021 in the home he shared with his wife Carolyn. He was 75.

Tom was born on September 19, 1945 in Harrison, Arkansas to Dean and Ettena Reid. He and his siblings were raised in Fort Smith, Arkansas. Tom graduated from Northside High School in Fort Smith and went on to earn a Bachelor of Science in Education at the College of the Ozarks in Clarksville, AR. Tom was wise beyond his education. Many family and friends would often seek his advice and wisdom.

By middle school, Tom had met the love of his life, Carolyn Beth Gammage. He and Carolyn married on September 1, 1967 in Fort Smith and were married for 54 years. After college graduation, they made their home in Alma, AR where he began his teaching career. He taught middle school in Alma for 12 years. While in Alma, he and Carolyn started their family; two years apart, they had two daughters. Tom was heavily involved in the small Alma community. He was a charter member of the Jaycees chapter and a charter member of the Kiwanis Club.

When he left teaching, Tom and Carolyn moved to Oklahoma and he stayed in the youth service field working for Wesleyan Youth Services and Eastern Oklahoma Youth Services. He worked for 29 years serving hundreds of Oklahoma children. Living on Eufaula Lake lent himself to a small business opportunity, he owned a propeller repair service that occupied a lot of his free time over a span of about 5 years. Tom retired in 2010 and he and Carolyn moved to Sapulpa to be closer to their children.

Tom received a lifesaving heart transplant in 1996. He was a 24 year and 7-month survivor. Tom considered living with a heart transplant challenging yet an unbelievable gift that he was honored to receive. Integris Health presented Tom with the Pioneering Spirit Award for his years of survival with a transplanted heart.

Tom has enjoyed several hobbies throughout his life. He enjoyed fishing, boating, and golf. He had many talents. He built beautiful stained-glass pieces. Some of his stained-glass windows are still displayed in churches in Alma and in Eufaula. He was also an artist and would spend many hours on paintings that now decorate his home and the homes of his children. He would spend time in his shop building gorgeous furniture that is still being used every day.

Tom will be remembered for his dry sense of humor, his witty way with words and his lifetime loyalty to the Arkansas Razorbacks. He would be the first person to help whenever asked and would always take the time to explain how to do something to his girls or grandchildren.

His memory will be cherished and kept alive by his adoring wife, Carolyn Reid, of the home. His children, Fonda and Rodney Hefner of Guthrie, OK. and Carrie and John Paris of Tulsa, OK. He will also be remembered by his four grandchildren: Brett, Steely, Claire and Levi and his sister, Anette and DeWitt Nix.

Tom was preceded in death by his parents, Dean and Ettena Reid, and 3 brothers, Jimmy Reid, Chuck Reid and Bill Reid.

A family service will be planned at a later date.

Cremation arrangements are entrusted to Schaudt's Funeral Services of Glenpool, Oklahoma.