Martha Ellen Reid

March 27, 1950 - January 19, 2025

Martha Ellen Reid, 74, of Wirtz, passed away the evening of Sunday, January 19,2025. She was preceded in death by her parents, Leo "Shotgun" and Thelma Ferguson; brothers, Roger and Donald Ferguson, and sister, Penny Irene Ferguson.

She is survived by her loving husband, James T. Reid; son, Patrick Trout; daughter, Mary Ellen Trout (Dora); grandson, Christian Reid (Alesia); sisters, Patricia Bouvier, Louise Perdue, and Betty Jones (Gary); and lifelong friend, Karen Birkenmier.

Martha was raised with her brothers and sisters in the Midway neighborhood of Vinton Va. She graduated from William Byrd High School class of 68, and eventually started a nursing career working in the fields of ophthalmology and plastic surgery. Martha was a careful and compassionate wound care technician with an enormous capacity for empathy. Helping people feel better was her true gift. She could reliably turn tears of pain into smiles.

Martha's life of hard work and creativity is most evident at the home she crafted with her husband "Boo." Teeming with energy and constantly seeking to improve her surroundings, her home and gardens were her playground, a place where work is pleasure. Martha loved the plants and flowers around her house, and she would share photos of their blooms, insects, and visiting birds. She would paint small rocks to an extraordinary level of detail, and would place them in unexpected locations around their property. Projects at the "working ranch" were a constant source of enjoyment for her.

Martha found joy in so many things. She loved children, flowers, nursing, road trips with hubby, soda pop on ice, cold beer at El Rodeo, celestial events, new shoes, old SNL skits, yard work, TIK-TOK, and the Blue Ridge Parkway. Martha was a prolific sender of cards, articles, and little notes of encouragement. She always remembered people's birthday and gave carefully selected and thoughtful gifts at special occasions. Martha demonstrated an intense love for her sisters and worked hard to keep their sisterhood strong. Martha's love and dedication to her children was extraordinary, as indicated by their broken hearts. Martha shared a deep bond with her husband, who was her constant companion, until her final hour.

A family gathering will occur at Martha and Jim Reid's home in Wirtz on Friday, January 31, 2025.