SOUTH PARIS – Clarence “Doodie” Reid, 87, of West Paris, died at the Maine Veterans Home on Wednesday evening, Aug. 25.

He was born in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia, Canada, on Nov. 3, 1916, the son of John and Jessie (Wheeler) Reid. He was brought up in Watertown, Mass., and after graduation from high school he attended Colby College and was to graduate in 1942, but World War II changed his plans.

He joined the 102nd Infantry of Connecticut, and went to the South Pacific. After the war, he returned to Colby College and graduated in June of 1947.

He began his teaching career at West Paris High School in the fall of 1947. While at West Paris High School, he twice coached basketball teams that won the Western Maine Championship, in 1948, and again in 1950. For two years he coached a football team. He taught English, U.S. History, physics, biology, civics and Problems of Democracy while at the same time being the school principal.

In April of 1961, he decided to take a position as assistant principal of Paris High School. Before the fall term began, the Oxford Hills School District had been formed; from then until 1974, he acted as assistant principal of Oxford Hills High School, except for the 68-69 school years when he taught education courses at Bliss College. Several times he served as acting principal while the board of education was searching for a new principal. He retired from education in 1974.

He served on the West Paris school board after the town seceded from the town of Paris. He was influential in the process of West Paris joining M.S.A.D. 17. Following his retirement from teaching, he also served on the Eest Paris Board of Selectmen.

He was very active in the life of the Ring-McKeen Post of the American Legion in West Paris where he served in several capacities including Adjutant and Commander as well as being a member of the AF & AM and a former member of the I.O.O.F.

Starting in 1978, he was an officer of the West Paris Cemetery Association and continued in this capacity until health made it difficult to carry out the business of the association.

When asked what had been the high point of his life as a citizen of West Paris, he replied without hesitating “teaching at West Paris High School. I really enjoyed that.” His enthusiasm for his work made a lasting impression on the lives of many of his students.

He is survived by two nephews, Larry Carson and his wife, Marion, of Ivoryton, Conn., and Donald Carson and his wife, Ellen, of Springfield, Va.; and a special caring friend, Evelyn Whitman of West Paris.