Clarence Nelson REED

1935 - 2022

REED, Clarence Nelson
January 21, 1935 - December 3, 2022

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Clarence Nelson Reed. Clare fought a brief but intense battle with cancer, slipping away quietly and peacefully in his own bed with family around him on the evening of December 3, 2022.

Clarence is predeceased by his wife Sylvia in 2015, and is survived by his children Michael (Sheri), Krissa (Phil), and Gavin; Clare and Syl unconditionally accepted their children's partners as the fifth Beatle(s), and loved them accordingly. He is also survived by his six wonderful grandchildren, Grace, Cameron, Rachel, Duncan, Olivia, and Shea - he was always so proud of you! Clarence will be deeply missed by Orest and Gloria Bazylewich for whom he felt great love and affection, going right back to those early days on Broder Street, Regina where he met Sylvia, and all the magic began. Clarence is also survived by his younger sister, Lesley Pierce (Wayne) of Kelowna. He leaves behind many others too numerous to acknowledge here, who knew how exceptional he was and who greatly valued his friendship.

It's almost impossible to summarize the life of such a man - he was a devoted husband, a fabulous father, and a full-on Grandpa; there are numerous and varied photos of small children standing on stools helping him make his famous pancakes, and many more of those same kids on stools pulled up to the bench or lathe in his workshop. Clare was immensely proud of his family and loved us well. That this day should come was inevitable, but even so, such a loss will be hard to reconcile to a future without him. He made and led an incredibly rich life into which we were all drawn and in which we all flourished. He was unfailingly even-tempered, rarely lost his cool, and had an incredible sense of humour. Because of this, it wasn't until his beloved Sylvia passed away that we began to learn somewhat of the price that PTSD demands of all First Responders. That we had no idea either as children, or later as adults, is a testament to how he decided to live his life, and the choices he made - trauma was not brought home.

Clare had an extensive and distinguished 25-year career in the RCMP, beginning with Highway patrol in Southern Alberta, then a special assignment in Ottawa, from there moving on to the Vancouver Ident Crime Lab where he later became the NCO in charge of Forensic Photography. Following retirement from Federal Service, Clare took a position as security analyst for Canada Safeway, after which he embarked on his third career change with the Bank of Canada.

Upon his final retirement, he pursued travel with his love, Syl, and their best friends Frank and Bobby McLeod, Ernie and Cathy Chisolm, and Wendy Laporte. Together with Sylvia, he built and maintained a warm and welcoming home (where boisterous dinners were regularly held), and beautifully landscaped gardens - revamping both as times and styles changed - they were always up for it, although when asked, he openly admitted the point of throw cushions eluded him! He was also free to capitalize on his lifelong love of woodworking in which he was a most accomplished craftsman. Family and a fair few friends have in their possession one or more of his beautifully crafted pieces of art or MCM furniture. His incredible skills are also on display in all of his kids' renovated homes; he could build or repair anything, although he did once express an exasperated wish that we stop bringing him cheap furniture to rebuild! His talent and scope of experience were ever impressive. There is even a lovely, tiny felt-lined coffin, buried under the patio stones of a North Van home - RIP Bonnie the guinea pig. He never questioned, just acted. He was a man of perception and character.

There is no way to give a comprehensive account of a life that was so full and varied. In the 50s he built a cabin with friends up Grouse Mountain, hauling everything up with brute strength, determination, the odd cigarette and bottle of whisky. He quit high school at sixteen to drive truck for his father's sash and door company, but years later when his own kids were still young, he went back to "night school" to earn that graduation. In the early 60s, when on guard duty with the RCMP on Parliament Hill he was known to share the odd cuppa with then PM Diefenbaker in the wee hours of the morning before the capital awoke and the business of Government began. In 1965, there being no coroner available, Clare was sent to the remote site of the tragic plane crash of CPA flight 21, brought down by a bomb near 100 Mile House, BC. Strapped into the open bay door, he hung out of the plane photographing the carnage, later trekking into the site on foot to continue the grim process of documenting the accident, and identifying the many victims. Changing gears, there was the 1972 Incident of the Frog (as it came to be known), when Clare miraculously revived a small amphibian that had inadvertently been left exposed in the sun by his distraught young daughter - disaster averted - hero status (re)confirmed. Such was his innate ability to be truly present for those who needed him, and it speaks to his incredible capacity to recognize a need and act.

Our family would like to acknowledge the incredible care Clare was given at West Coast General Hospital in Port Alberni. Clare's dedicated medical team included Dr. D. White, who was critical in gaining a fast diagnosis; Dr. Jan Klomje who performed a miracle surgery; Dr. Julia Adams, Dad's outstanding GP; and Dr. W. Johnsen, who stepped in quickly to update Dad's palliative care. Additionally, there was the truly responsive, seamless, and compassionate care shown by palliative home support services - Nurse Catherine W. (C Dub), and her amazing teammates as they guided us through the absolute lightning changes of Dad's illness. At every turn it was always "I'm going back to the office right now to set that up for you" - there was never a need that wasn't met within hours, even coming out to us through the heavy snow and impossibly impassable roads. Gifted at reading the room, they took away the stress and fear of being Dad's caregivers and returned to us the gift of again being his family. A thousand thanks - you can never know the full extent of our gratitude.

Clare's influence and impact were felt in so many spheres, touched so many lives, in so many ways, but the constant underpinning it all was the deep love and devotion he held for his life partner, Sylvia. They had a wonderful relationship based on passionate love, admiration, and respect; solidly grounded in unconditional trust, acceptance, and support. We are strong enough to weather this loss because of their unwavering commitment to each other, and to those whom they counted as family. There is nothing else they needed to do, but to live the life they built together, and to show us every day, in everything they did together, that a life well-lived, with love freely given and accepted, is the ultimate prize. Goodbye Dad, be with Mom; we will all be ok.

A memorial service will be held On Saturday, February 11, 2023, 2pm at the Corrigan Nature House (2645 Dollarton Hwy, North Vancouver) to celebrate this exceptional man. Without doubt, there will be the recounting of as yet untold stories - Orest, we're looking at you! The family requests no flowers, but should you wish, a donation in Clare's name to the Charity of Your Choice would be a lovely remembrance.