Reed M Holmes

Reed M Holmes, 99, of Peace Valley Farm, Pepperell MA passed away November 13, 2016. A Celebration of Life Gathering will be held Sunday, November 20th at 3pm at Speaks Suburban Chapel, 18020 E. 39th St., Independence. He was born June 17, 1917 in Mansfield, WA to Lawrence and Emma Holmes. Reed was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Wayne Norris Holmes and his first wife, Dorothy Carter Holmes; He is survived by his loving wife, Jean, his daughters, Carol Flowers and husband Les of Independence, Joy Farquhar and husband George of Damascus, OR, Jewell Bolton and husband Andrew of Independence; and sons, David and wife Shauna of Washington DC, Lawrence and wife Marielou of Walkersville MD, and Lance Carter of Portland, OR; as well as 17 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren. Reed served the Community of Christ Church from 1940 to 1982 in many capacities, beginning in Jonesport Maine and the East Coast, and including editor of The Herald, liaison with the Jewish community in interfaith activities in Kansas City, Apostle from 1948-1974 including Secretary of the Council of Twelve, and Presiding Patriarch from 1974-1982. His family served in Massachusetts, California, Australia, and Independence, MO, while he also traveled widely, including Tahiti, Fiji, and the South Sea Islands.
As Peace Activist, Reed founded ViewPax Mondiale, an international peace organization and co-directed many group Friendship Journeys to Israel and beyond with Jean. Reed received his Ph.D., “Gentile Dreamers of Zion” from Haifa University in Israel in 1990. He has written many works, including “Israel Land of Zion”, “The Forerunners”, and “Dreamers of Zion”. In 2004 Reed and Jean received a preservation award from Maine for restoring and establishing the Maine Friendship House museum in the American Colony in Tel Aviv-Jaffa. Reed lived to celebrate the 150th anniversary of this Colony this year with friends and descendants in Jonesport Maine and in Tel Aviv-Jaffa. Along with being an accomplished historian and dynamic preacher, Reed was a published photographer, a gentle presence of great faith and enthusiasm who inspired people around the world. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to the Peace Pavilion, 1001 W. Walnut St, Independence MO 64050.