Mary Elizabeth Reed

Mary Elizabeth Reed

On Tuesday, March 4 (just 19 days shy of her 92 birthday) God spoke to Mary saying, "Well

done, my good and faithful servant," and called Mary home.

Born March 23, 1933, in Concord, Massachusetts, Mary grew up as the middle child of eight to

Howard and Portia Tracy. Her favorite childhood memories were the adventures of living

through the Depression in a dirt-floor house in the woods where she got into mischief with her

older brothers, and tending the fruit and vegetable farmstand with "Daddy."

Mary graduated from Raymond High School in 1951, where at the age of 15 she met and fell in

love with Carl, who would be the love of her life for 64 years, until he predeceased her on

December 4, 2012.

They were married in Candia, NH on January 11, 1953, in the middle of a New England ice

storm. They welcomed their first child Carl Bradley ten months later to the day! During that

same year, while her husband was serving his country in Germany, Mary studied and

graduated from the Laconia Hospital School of X-Ray. Mary continued to work in Laconia and

then at Concord Hospital until 1955, when she dedicated herself to being a stay-at-home mother

with the arrival of their daughter, Beth.

In 1958, Carl and Mary bought what would be their "forever" home on Sun Hill Road in

Raymond, where their family continued to grow with Tracy in 1962, and Mary "Missy" in 1964.

Carl and Mary lived happily at Sun Hill for 54 more years.

Mary was a natural and gifted teacher, with a love and passion for children. As a Sunday school

teacher, she shared God's Love and Promises to the youth of Raymond Baptist Church for 30

years. During those decades, she also served as the Director of Vacation Bible School.

Mary taught Good News Bible Clubs in public schools for 40 years. Many adults who were once

students in "Mrs. Reed's clubs" have testified to the life-long impact of Mary's teaching.

Mary served on the Child Evangelism Fellowship of NH State Board, and volunteered for 35

years at Camp Good News in Charlestown, NH-first as a camp counselor, and later as an

activities director.

Mary was a compassionate, devoted, and loving wife, daughter, and daughter-in-law. She

dedicated tireless years of her life as the in-home, hands-on caregiver for her mother, mother-in-law, and husband in their later years.

She was a gifted and artistic "crafter," pouring enormous amounts of love and care into the

costumes she created for her children, wedding floral arrangements, and her famous and

comprehensive Christmas Craft Show.

Above all, Mary's legacy of love, selfless devotion, generosity, and dedication to faith and family

lives on in her children, their spouses, her abundant number of loved and cherished

grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and friends she met along the way.

Mary's life embodied her favorite verse, Joshua 1:9 "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and

courageous. Do not be afraid: do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you

wherever you go."

The Reed Family would like to thank the staff and caregivers at Mount Carmel Nursing and

Rehabilitation Center for the professional and compassionate care they provided for Mary in

these last years of her life.

The Celebration of Mary's Life will be held at the Raymond Baptist Church, 145 Route 27,

Raymond, NH on Saturday, March 22, 2025. Visitation will be from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. Service to

begin at 2 p.m. Immediately followed by a reception.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Samaritan's Purse @ Samaritanspurse.org

The Brewitt Funeral Home, 2 Epping Street, Raymond, NH is handling the arrangements; for more information, please visit www.brewittfuneralhome.com.