William "Bill" Reid

Master Sergeant William Eugene Reid, USAF (Ret.), passed away of acute myeloid leukemia at his home in Kuna, Idaho at the age of 74 on Monday, September 8, 2025. Bill was the youngest child born to Jack Clephan and Grace (Hall) Reid in Maywood, California, delivered right after his twin brother, Jeff, on February 15, 1951.
On June 20, 1974, Bill married his eternal sweetheart, Karen Danes, in the Los Angeles, California, temple. Bill and Karen were blessed with six children, listed below. Bill found joy in fatherhood and loved being a grandpa as well. Throughout his life, he generously shared with his children and grandchildren the things which so thoroughly engaged him, including music, stage productions, photography, and a love of reading and language.
Serving in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints was an important aspect of Bill's life. He served a 2-year mission in the Eastern States mission when he was 19. Bill's twin brother, Jeff, served in the nearby New England Mission. Bill and Jeff (the Elders Reid), talked throughout their missions about getting together in a town where the missions intersected to shake hands over the borders, but that never ended up happening. However, Bill used to laugh at how Elder Paul Dunn spoke to both Jeff and then Bill's mission groups. Seeing Bill, Elder Dunn asked, "Elder Reid, aren't you in the wrong mission?", at which point Bill let him in on the fact that they were, in fact, twins.
Throughout his life, he held callings in bishoprics, in Scouting, as music director, and consistently served at the temple. In recent years, Bill and his wife, Karen, served as military liaisons to Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, as part of the Arkansas, Bentonville mission from 2016-2018. They were also part of a Family History mission from 2021-2024 for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Family History, specializing in records.
After marrying Karen, Bill joined the United States Air Force and held positions in avionics, programming, and training. After 22 years, he retired and moved his family to Idaho. When most of his kids were in middle or high school, Bill went back to school at Boise State University to get his Master's Degree in Instructional Design. He used this as a tool to continue teaching and sharing his knowledge for the rest of his professional career.
Bill picked up a variety of skills, and referred to himself as a 'jack of all trades but a master of none'. He leant his carpentry skills to anything that needed making, from tree houses to wood sheds. He grew up with a love of music instilled by his parents, and developed that passion through college and his adult life, writing over fifty original pieces. Many nieces and nephews, and all of his grandchildren, were rocked to sleep to his lullaby 'New Eyes, New Smiles' as infants. He took pictures at many events for family and friends, having started a photography business with his twin brother in high school, and it's due to him that we have so many photos of random life moments. Bill loved community theater, with his earliest role being one of the sons of the widower in 'Promised Valley' when he was 9 and his most recent being Oliver Hix, the baritone of the barbershop quartet in 'The Music Man' in 2022. He also pursued a hobby in amateur radio, occasionally recruiting his children to raise antennas in the back yard and, in his later years, helped facilitate an Emergency Relay Communications Community with his local ham radio group.
He is survived by his wife, Karen; their children, Calista, Bradford, Melinda, LaNita, and Wesley; his grandchildren, Kellen, Madison (Narin), Evelyn, Elizabeth, Carson, Cole, Dale, Xander, Joshua, Logan, Remus, Jaden, Heather, Ethan, and Elizabeth; as well as his brothers, George (Frank) and Jeff, and his sister, Mary. He is preceded in death by his daughter, Mariah; his parents, Jack and Grace; his brothers, John (Dave) and Raymond (Doug), and his sister, Linda.
Bill will be laid to rest in the Kuna Cemetery, facilitated by Zeyer Funeral Chapel. There will be a viewing on Sunday, September 14, 2025 at 6:00 PM at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ward building at 224 E Avalon in Kuna, Idaho. On Monday, September 15, 2025, at the same location, there will be a viewing at 9:00 AM, funeral services at 10:00 AM, and a graveside service to follow.
In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the humanitarian or missionary funds of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Donations can be made in person or, to access this online, go to donate.churchofjesuschrist.org. With or without a login, one can make a one-time donation.