Laurie S. Reed

LAURIE S. REED (nee Semple) age 76, beloved wife for 54 years of Richard “Dick”; loving mother of Elizabeth “Beth” Hearn (husband Patrick), Virginia ”Ginger” Morgan (husband Howard) and Paul S. (wife Jennifer); devoted grandmother of Reed, Andrew, and Catie Morgan, Kaitlin Nicola and Clare Hearn, Halla, Jack and Anne Reed; cherished daughter of George and Carol (nee Vogt) Semple; dearest sister of Bonnie Carlson (husband William, deceased).

It is with sorrow and joy that Laurie’s family say goodbye and send her to be with her Lord.

Laurie was raised in Shaker Heights and enjoyed academics, field hockey, riding, sailing, and swimming.  She continued horse riding for much of her life.  She spent her summers as a camp counselor in Canada and at her family cottage on Obanseil Island in Georgian Bay, Canada.  She received her BA from Wells College and M.Ed from Cornell. At a freshman dance, she met Richard Reed, a Cornell engineering student. They dated, fell in love and married on September 14, 1963. They moved to Cleveland where Richard worked for Parker for 16 years. Laurie dedicated herself to lovingly raising and educating her three children.  She remained a passionate teacher all her life, taking the children to national parks, museums and educational opportunities across the country. Laurie loved spending summers at Obanseil. She immersed herself in community activities, supported her children’s schools, studied and taught at her church, and was an active member of Cleveland Garden Club of Cleveland, The Junior League of Cleveland, Holden Arboretum, and a variety of sporting clubs. She was passionate about missions; she was on her church mission committee and loved supporting and hosting missionaries. Laurie always encouraged and supported her children and grandchildren in their passions, education and careers. After her children left home, Laurie received her MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from John Carroll University and then certified as a LPCC (licensed professional clinical counselor). She opened her own practice, Christian Counseling Ministries. She blessed many individuals and their families through this ministry.

Laurie loved travel. She and Richard took their children on many family trips when the kids were growing and then traveled on numerous occasions with Ravi Zacharias International Ministry and with Country Walkers, enjoying over 30 countries. Sadly, over the last several years, Laurie suffered from Frontotemporal Dementia. She continued to live as full a life as possible, with the loving care of Jennifer, Paul, and Richard. Laurie spent her final days surrounded by her children, grandchildren, and friends and supported by the Hospice of the Western Reserve.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in memory of Laurie to Ravi Zacharias International Ministries (rzim.org); Reaching Indians Ministries International (rimi.org); Child Evangelism Fellowship of Cleveland PO Box 10662, Cleveland, OH 44110 (cefonline.com); Amazing Grace Church (amazingepc.com); Association of Frontotemporal Degeneration (theaftd.org); and Holden Arboretum (holdenarb.org).

Celebration of Life Service Saturday, September 23, 2017 at 11:30 AM at Amazing Grace Church 5632 Wilson Mills Rd., Highland Heights, OH 44143. All are invited to stay for lunch at church directly following services. Family will receive guests September 23 from 10:30-11:30 AM. Arrangements by the DeJohn Funeral Home & Celebrations Center of Chesterland.