Philip W. Reid

Asheville -Philip W. Reid, 87, of 6 Elkmont Place, died Sunday, March 31, 2002 at Mission St. Josephs Health System following a brief illness. He was a beloved father and grandfather and a special friend to children. Mr. Reid owned and operated Sky City Furniture Co. in Asheville for 40 years before retiring in the 1980s. He was born in Ferguson, Mo., May 19, 1914, the son of the late William J. and Jane H. Reid. He joined the Merchant Marines as a young man and traveled the world. During World War II he served in the U.S. Army, participating in the liberation of the Philippines. He was an avid writer of stories about people and twice won Best of Show in the literary division of the annual Silver Arts competition in Buncombe County. Mr. Reid donated hundreds of hours of community service and was honored by Thoms Rehabilitation Hospital as a Volunteer of the Year. He was an active member of the Harvest House Recreation Center, serving on its board of directors for many years and as its chairman. He was preceded in death by his wife, Devisadero H. Reid, and three brothers and three sisters. He is survived by his soulmate, Jean Johnson, with whom he spent the happiest years of his life. Other survivors include his three children and their spouses: Tim and Barbara Reid, Tobey and Joe Livingstone and Anne and Pete Hunt. Also surviving are his grandchildren, Melanie Reid Snelson, Jeremy and Jennifer Livingstone, U.S. Army 1st. Lt. Stacey Hunt Gerhardt, who is stationed in Kosovo, and his namesake Philip Hunt; as well as great grandchildren, Chesney and Savannah Snelson; numerous nieces and nephews in the St. Louis, Mo., area and Pass Christian, Miss., and their children for whom he felt a special love and kinship. He was a founding member of St. Eugenes Catholic Church and cherished his many friends there, some of whom drove him to and from church in recent months or brought him communion. A memorial mass will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday at St. Eugenes Catholic Church with Rev. Frank Cancro officiating. Honorary pallbearers will be, Wayne Duffer, Ed Webb, Marty Horvath, Claude Bramlett, Ray Elingburg and Bill Reid. His family will receive friends from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at Anders-Rice Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to; St. Eugenes Catholic Church Building Fund, 72 Culvern Street, Asheville, NC 28804. The family would like to thank Drs. Brian Asbill, Michael Messino, Alan Bradshaw, Enrique Varela and Edward K. Isbey, Jr. for their care and kindness, also Sister Anita Sheering, a special family friend who brought spiritual comfort.