By Megan Reed and Laurie Harris, his daughters 

The family of Dr. David Gwilym Reed of Vernon, British Columbia, is deeply saddened to announce his passing on February 2, 2026, at the age of 88. 

Dave was born October 30, 1937, to Wilfred and Margaret Reed of Vancouver, youngest brother to Morfydd (Leschiutta) and Beryl (Underhill). 

During his “tween” school years, Dave met his lifetime partner, Wendy Fox. They graduated from Magee High School in 1955 and were married in 1961. 

Though he was raised a city boy, Dad’s heart would always belong to ranching and horses, having spent a memorable teenaged summer on his Uncle Stanley Cope’s ranch in the foothills of Alberta. This passion led him to become a veterinarian, graduating from the Ontario Veterinary College in 1963. 

After a brief stopover in Brooks, Alberta, Dave and Wendy were called home to BC. They purchased a veterinary practice, Prevost Veterinary Clinic, in rural Duncan on Vancouver Island, and moved there to begin life with baby daughter, Megan, and Tory, a black Labrador. The practice — and the family — grew quickly. Dave and Wendy welcomed daughter Laurie (Harris) in 1965. 

This photo was taken on the four-day Alberta Centennial Trail Ride on CFB Suffield, near Medicine Hat, in July 2005.  L-R: Megan riding Drift’s Legacy, Anglo-Arab, their last Sir Drift+ offspring; Laurie on Crown Derby (aka “Derby,” Arabian) by Pyatigorsk; and Dave on the grey Arabian Crown Prince Igor (aka “Igor,” the best trail riding horse!). All three horses were geldings. Photo courtesy of Megan Reed

The Reeds embraced life as a horsey family, enjoying a variety of pleasure horses and ponies before turning their focus to raising Arabians. Dave and Wendy shared a vision, and took pride in producing athletic, sound-minded horses that would be great companions and excel as pleasure and show horses. Young Meg and Laurie became avid equestriennes, learning the joys and responsibilities that came with barn life. In 1973, Dave travelled to Poland with a boyhood friend and fellow veterinarian, Dr. George Allen, to help import a special Arabian stallion, *Pietuszok, and a planeload of sport horses that would help establish a Trakehner horse registry in North America. 

As the veterinary practice grew, Dave was able to specialize in treating horses and eventually sold out of Prevost Vet Clinic to practise on his own, treating only horses. As one of BC’s leading equine vets, he doctored many top show and racehorses. But his real love was helping Island clients with their “backyard” pleasure horses. He was a trusted vet and mentor to many, some of whom became very dear friends. 

In his “spare time” he worked to fulfill another childhood dream: becoming a private pilot. The Reed family enjoyed sightseeing, whale watching, and short jaunts from the seats of his Cessna aircraft. Meg and Laurie were treated to Dad’s Friday afternoon flights from school and work life in Vancouver to Duncan for family and barn time. “Dr. Dave” also took to the air for mid-Island farm calls — saving hours of highway driving and enjoying much-loved flying time. 

The 1990s had a different path in store for Dave and Wendy. After a riding accident forced his retirement from equine veterinary medicine, Dave worked briefly for the Canada Food Inspection Agency, (mostly) in Greater Vancouver. Ultimately, being city kids again didn’t appeal, so Dave and Wendy migrated to Mabel Lake, near Enderby, BC, and built their retirement home where he could fly small planes from the grass runway at their back door. 

Horses continued to play an important role. For many years, Dave kept his hand in the world of horse health, producing and marketing Dr. Reed’s Horse Supplements, an enterprise that kept him and Wendy busy for many years after leaving veterinary practice. Farm life called once again, and they left Mabel Lake for a small property in Armstrong, where the family geldings enjoyed trail rides, and Dad enjoyed puttering in the barn and on the tractor. During this time, Dave and Wendy also enjoyed trips to sunny Los Ayala, Mexico, where a whole new group of friends and fun awaited them each winter. 

When farm life became too much physical work, Dave and Wendy relocated to a small house overlooking O’Keefe Ranch north of Vernon. Trail riding, Dr. Reed’s Supplements, and vet consulting continued as the last of the family’s horses moved to Asmara Arabians in Armstrong, where many happy times were spent.  

In his younger life, Dave participated in ice-dancing, hockey, and downhill skiing. Throughout his life, he took much pleasure from fishing, boating, and duck hunting. In recent years, he enjoyed daily dog walks with Bobby and Bella and bird hunting with his friend, Gordon. Even with advancing age and declining health, Dad remained an outdoorsman. He was always out in the yard or ready for a trip to local dog parks. Animals were a mainstay and a source of much happiness, as were visits with niece Joy (Chris), whom he was delighted to have living nearby. 

Dave Reed on an outing with Bobby, a Miniature Schnauzer, and Bella, a Small Munsterlander. The photo was taken at Elizabeth Lake while visiting his daughter, Laurie, in Cranbrook, BC. Photo courtesy of Megan Reed

Dave leaves behind his wife of 64 years, Wendy, and daughters Megan in Vernon and Laurie (Bob) in Cranbrook. An important circle of extended family (George and Carol, Mike, Dree, Melanie and Trevor), several nieces, nephews, and close friends join us in grieving his loss. 

Heartfelt thanks to the superb medical staff who supported Dave with their expertise and compassion: Nurse Practitioner Andi Bernauer in Salmon Arm, and the doctors and nurses in the ER and on Second Floor East at Vernon Jubilee Hospital, who kept Dad comfortable and well-cared for in his final days. We are grateful for your skill and compassion. 

A Celebration of Life will be planned in Vernon at a later date. In lieu of flowers, a donation could be made in his memory to the Vernon Jubilee Hospital Foundation or Circle F Horse Rescue Society in Abbotsford, BC. 

Photo: Dianne Levesque