Obituary, Karilyn Eunice Simchuk Reid, 61

Karilyn Eunice Simchuk Reid, 61, passed away peacefully in Spokane, Wash. on September 6, 2015.

She was born on April 8, 1954 to Nick and Eunice Simchuk in Spokane and was raised in the area.

Karilyn attended Mead Schools and graduated from high school in 1972.

She met her first husband, Steve O'Neil, at Spokane Falls Community College and they began traveling to Alaska for the summers. Together they had two children, Cameron and Stacey O'Neil. The family spent their time between Washington and Alaska, eventually making a permanent move to Petersburg, Alaska, a place they had fallen in love with over the years. Steve passed away in 1988.

In the fall of 1989, Karilyn met Glenn Reid and they married in 1991, blending together their children from previous marriages, and welcoming a new member to the family in 1992, their son, Jordan Reid.

Giving back to the community was an integral part of Karilyn's life. She volunteered as an EMT, played and coached softball, and volunteered for projects involving her children including sporting events and graduations. Growing up, she enjoyed outdoor activities such as skiing, snowmobiling, and riding her motorcycle.

Later in life, Karilyn found immense pleasure making her home beautiful through gardening and home improvement projects. As a tenacious fisherwoman, Karilyn greatly enjoyed spending time with her rod and reel. Her creativity was evident in her artistic eye as an amateur photographer, capturing nature's beauty through her lens. The fruits of her passions also produced many hours of home videos, leaving her family with a lifetime of memories to be cherished. 

Karilyn was preceded in death by her parents Eunice and Nick Simchuk, her brother Terry Simchuk, and her first husband, Steve O'Neil.

Karilyn is survived by her husband, Glenn Reid, as well as her children Cameron O'Neil, Stacey O'Neil, Jennifer Reid, Jessica Reid, and Jordan Reid, and her grandson Austin, her siblings Gary Simchuk, Nicholas Simchuk and Marilyn Barker and numerous nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held at the Petersburg Lutheran Church on Sat., Sept. 19 at 1pm with a reception immediately following at the Holy Cross House.

In lieu of flowers, please send memorials to The Petersburg Volunteer Fire Department,

Box 75.