Reid Horrocks

1946 - 2017

It is with profound sadness and God’s grace that we announce the passing of Reid Wayne Horrocks, surrounded by his family at home in Taber on Tuesday, February 28, 2017 at the age of 71 years.

 Left to celebrate his life is his wife of forty six years Rosanne Horrocks (nee Price); sons Blair (Kerrie) Horrocks of Taber and their children Brett and Alyssa; Lee (Jody) Reid of Taber and their children Torey, Carsen and Madison. He is also survived by his mother Glen Horrocks and her companion Roy Hammergren; sisters Dianne (Martin) Nowakowski and Betty Ann (Earle) Stuart; brother Brian Horrocks and sister-in-law Judy Horrocks; mother and father-in-law Hurley and Margaret Price as well as numerous nieces and nephews.  

 He was predeceased by his father Harry in 1999. 

 Reid began working at an early age at many different jobs. During this time he also was member of Taber Air Cadets and played baseball and hockey. Reid was an exceptional player and loved the competitive sport.  He went on to play Junior “A” with the Lethbridge Sugar Kings, where he received the most valuable player award along with top goal scorer for the league. Reid also played recreational hockey with a Native team and loved playing with them, as they used to say “hey white boy get out there we need a goal”.  But work called and he was on to being a lineman working first with Roy Shockey RS construction, Macgregor then on to Ace Construction. In 1968 he worked in Banff with Norman Malinsky and Roy O’Hara doing all the hot stick work. He returned to Taber and applied at the City of Lethbridge where he was hired to do the hot stick work. While in the city he wrote his Power Lineman ticket and his IBEW ticket. In 1974 he bought 320 acres at Sherbourne Lake and began farming. In the winter months, he returned to Ace Construction and was loaned out numerous times to Trans Alta. Reid was involved in the rebuild after the infamous storm of 1986. He loved the line trade and all the people he came in contact with. Reid worked under Elsworth Braun until Elsworth retired and he took over the foreman duties of that crew. In that time he trained many rookie Lineman and any of them who were fortunate enough to learn from him, knew what it was like to learn from one of the best. In 1995 he began working with his son Lee, running a digger truck for Reidco until he retired in 2009. In those fourteen years he helped build Reidco into a successful business.

 Reid loved Chesapeake dogs, Dusty the horse, hunting, camping, and water skiing, but not fishing even though he took his niece Crystal on numerous trips. He had a close encounter with a grizzly bear and her two cubs, but instead of taking her life and possibly her cubs, Reid being Reid, stood his ground and shouted loudly till she retreated. He taught Lee and Blair how to hunt and camp and passed his knowledge on to his grandkids and many others. Reid spent many hours with Brett and Alyssa at the farm target shooting, skeet shooting, hunting and riding Dusty. He was very proud of Torey and Madison for their love of horses and Carsen for his success with Air Cadets. 

Reid’s wish was to live out his days at home. Thanks to Ed Collin and Home Care we were able to grant this wish. Thank you to the neighbors and friends who helped with food, shovelling snow and just companionship during this time. He was an exceptional life teacher who stood by his beliefs – there is nothing to fear but fear itself. We wouldn’t have missed “the Dance” it was great.  Rest in Peace.

Reid will be privately remembered by his family and friends.

If friends so desire, memorial tributes in Reid’s name may be made directly to the 225 Royal Canadian Air Cadets Taber Comet (please make cheque payable to the 225 RCACS Sponsoring Committee) c/o 4718 - 60 Avenue, Taber, Alberta T1G 1E9 or the Lethbridge Therapeutic Riding Association, R.R. 8-24-6, Lethbridge, Alberta T1J 4P4.