Parker Reid Memorial
Donation protected
Parker Manz Reid left this life and entered Heaven in the early morning hours of December 10, 2020 after a lifelong battle with epilepsy. Parker was born on June 24, 2012, to parents Doug & Melissa Reid and brother James of Pasco, WA and was a lifelong resident of Pasco. He is the cherished gift of a birth parents who gave our family the greatest blessing. Parker opened the heart of our family in ways we could never have imagined. He taught us about unconditional love and acceptance. He faced a multitude of challenges in life with grace, and he taught everyone in his orbit how to do the same.
Parker was a friend to all who knew him. A former principal reports that his classmates would often refer to Parker as their “best friend.” Parker loved cuddles, holding hands, riding the bus to school, strolling the halls and the schoolyard for “Franklin Feet,” and throwing attitude at his therapists and teachers when he didn’t want to do his work. His greatest joy was making new friends and greeting everyone with a big hello wave of his feet in his signature red shoes. His laugh was electric. It could silence an entire classroom of chatty kindergarteners.
Parker blazed trails for students in our community with disabilities. Parker was part of the inaugural class to attend Pasco’s Early Learning Center. Later, he attended a Made-for-Parker inclusion program at Franklin STEM Elementary School. With his bestie and paraprofessional, Lauri Howell, there to help him, there was nothing he could not do alongside his classmates. Franklin staff and students welcomed Parker with loving and open arms. We taught each other, as a community, what being included is all about.
Parker later attended Life Skills at Barbara McClintock STEM Elementary due to the challenges in education brought about by the COVID-19 Pandemic. His transition there was seamless, and he continued to do what he did best: make more friends!
Our favorite family memory is a vacation to the Oregon Coast in the summer of 2019. Parker enjoyed taking in the sights and sounds of Seaside and Cannon Beach. Something magical happened there: Parker was so relaxed and peaceful near the ocean. It was a glimpse at the complete and total peace we know he feels now.
Our family would like to extend our thanks and deep gratitude to the many heroes in Parker’s life. His teachers, paraeducators, specialists, and school nurses made life wonderful for him. His doctors and nurses also added so much to his quality of life. This village wrapped tightly around us and helped us to become a better family. Special thanks to friends Ally and Kennedy for going the extra mile to befriend Parker, and to Isla, whose connection with Parker was pure magic. Parker’s memory will live in the hearts of everybody who had the blessing of knowing him—he was so easy to love!
Memorial funds will be used to place a bench at a park near our family's home in Pasco and to help with final expenses.
Parker was a friend to all who knew him. A former principal reports that his classmates would often refer to Parker as their “best friend.” Parker loved cuddles, holding hands, riding the bus to school, strolling the halls and the schoolyard for “Franklin Feet,” and throwing attitude at his therapists and teachers when he didn’t want to do his work. His greatest joy was making new friends and greeting everyone with a big hello wave of his feet in his signature red shoes. His laugh was electric. It could silence an entire classroom of chatty kindergarteners.
Parker blazed trails for students in our community with disabilities. Parker was part of the inaugural class to attend Pasco’s Early Learning Center. Later, he attended a Made-for-Parker inclusion program at Franklin STEM Elementary School. With his bestie and paraprofessional, Lauri Howell, there to help him, there was nothing he could not do alongside his classmates. Franklin staff and students welcomed Parker with loving and open arms. We taught each other, as a community, what being included is all about.
Parker later attended Life Skills at Barbara McClintock STEM Elementary due to the challenges in education brought about by the COVID-19 Pandemic. His transition there was seamless, and he continued to do what he did best: make more friends!
Our favorite family memory is a vacation to the Oregon Coast in the summer of 2019. Parker enjoyed taking in the sights and sounds of Seaside and Cannon Beach. Something magical happened there: Parker was so relaxed and peaceful near the ocean. It was a glimpse at the complete and total peace we know he feels now.
Our family would like to extend our thanks and deep gratitude to the many heroes in Parker’s life. His teachers, paraeducators, specialists, and school nurses made life wonderful for him. His doctors and nurses also added so much to his quality of life. This village wrapped tightly around us and helped us to become a better family. Special thanks to friends Ally and Kennedy for going the extra mile to befriend Parker, and to Isla, whose connection with Parker was pure magic. Parker’s memory will live in the hearts of everybody who had the blessing of knowing him—he was so easy to love!
Memorial funds will be used to place a bench at a park near our family's home in Pasco and to help with final expenses.
Organizer
Melissa Reid
Organizer
Pasco, WA