James "Smoke" Ellsworth Reid

James Ellsworth “Smoke” Reid, age 84, of Mansfield, went to meet the Lord on Thursday evening, July 4, 2024 at OSU East, in Columbus.

James was born October 22, 1939 in Mansfield, Ohio to Richard Ellsworth “Elic” Reid and Mildred Elizabeth “Banty” (Hamrick) Reid. 

James was a hard worker as an auto body man, working at various shops in Mansfield and Frenchy’s Collision in Detroit.  James retired from Beer Brother’s Masonry.  James enjoyed time with his family and friends and restoring antique clocks, cars, and tractors.  James was a veteran who served in the Army National Guard.

James married Roberta “Bobbi” Yarman, his wife of 57 years, on April 22, 1967.  James loved his family and had a soft spot for all his kids and grandchildren and taught and molded them to endow the strong values he himself lived by.  James was close with his all siblings and cousins and especially close with cousins Rodney Southern and Fred Hamrick.  James enjoyed coffee hour with his family and friends who gathered at his home for 3 o’clock coffee daily. 

James is survived by his wife, Bobbi; daughters, Melinda “Mindy” Dyer (Doug Gray), Jamie (Mike) Jaynes, and Michelle “Shelly” (Terry) Kniceley; his dog, Festus; sister, Carol Ann (John) Stefan; brother, Ronald “Stanley” Reid; grandchildren, Bobbi Layfield, Mandy Jaynes, Dustin (Torri) Dyer, Aaron (Kayla) Morton, Miranda (Eddie) Butler, Brittany Jaynes, Christopher Ditmars, Andrew (Jaclyn) Morton, Bravin Kniceley, Trent (Baylee) Kniceley, Devon Layfield, and Hannah (Dylan) Ackerman; great-grandchildren, Desmon, Sylas, Alegacy, Vyctoria, Declyn, Aubrie, Parker, Emmett, Kim, Dixie, Ariana, Jaceda, Phyllip, Lily, Bennett, Nicole, Kali, Paisley, Maycee, Asher, Adria, Braxton, Hyde, Valentina, and Aurora; and many nieces and nephews.

James was preceded in death by his parents; in-laws, Russell (Vivian) Yarman and Mary Yarman; sons, Steven and Gregory Layfield; sister, Shirley “Sug” Calhoon; brothers. Richard “Dick” Reid, Donald “Donnie” Reid, and Randall “Clyde” Reid; granddaughter, Brooke Jaynes; and great-grandson, Cashton Ackerman.

A celebration of life will be held at Main Global Church, 230 S. Main Street, Mansfield at noon on Wednesday, July 24, 2024. A memorial service will follow at 1:00 p.m. with Pastor James Watkins officiating.  Burial will be in Lantz Cemetery at a later date. 

Werner-Gompf Funeral Services, ltd., 1106 Park Avenue East, Mansfield, is assisting the family with arrangements.

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