Elizabeth Ann Reid

Elizabeth Ann Reid

Affectionately known as “aunt Betsy Reid” or “California Betsy”

Elizabeth Ann Reid, 85, of Johnstown Ohio (formerly of Mountain View California), died peacefully in her sleep at her home on Thursday January 15, 2026 with her family by her side.

She is survived by her nieces and nephew: Deborah Reid, Matthew Reid, Laurel Reid (Elion) Hernandez, Rachel Reid (Benjamin) Piper; and two grandnieces and grandnephew: Zoe Cassidy (James) Frea, Isabella Cassidy (Zack) O’Rourke and Jamin (Abigail) Cassidy and one great grandniece: Aurora Marilee Frea

She was preceded in death by her brother, Robert Alden Reid, her nephew, Daniel Jonathan Reid, her parents, Irvin Dewey Reid and Catherine Pulkinen Reid and her sister, Eleanor Reid.

She was born on September 1, 1940 in Washington DC, daughter of Irvin Reid and Catherine Pulkinen Reid. While a resident of Washington DC, she graduated from college and joined the Peace Corp serving in the Philippines as a teacher for two years. She returned to the United States, landing in the San Fransisco Bay Area where she decided to stay.

She earned both bachelor and masters degrees. She was a registered nurse, held a teaching degree, majored in sociology, minored in humanities and English and was a Stanford University graduate.

She worked at the Palo Alto Medical Foundation in the Research Institute and later as an Administrative Associate at the Stanford Graduate School of Business where she worked until she retired.

Although she never married and had children, she lived a full and exciting lifestyle. She had many close friends and family with which she enjoyed spending time and traveling to such places as Portugal, France, Italy, Ireland, Philippines, England, Hawaii and throughout the continental United States.

She was a member of the Sierra Club and enjoyed tap dancing, painting, learning anything, classic movies and was especially well known as an avid reader. She had a collections of books on any subject imaginable although her favorites tended to be action, adventure and mystery.

She was a music lover with a large eclectic collection of vinyl records. She enjoyed watching movies, especially of the film noir genre and cheesy sci-fi’s. She enjoyed photography and the arts. She loved going out to a nice restaurant where she could enjoy fine food, fine wine or champagne and great conversation with friends and family.

Her life choices, interests and travels inspired her nieces and nephews to travel the world and become avid readers.

She was loved and admired for her happy, kind, easy going, quiet, calm, peaceful nature as well as her quick wit, intelligence, sense of humor, pithy comments, keen observations and generosity.