Obituary of Kenneth Johne Edwards

Kenneth John Edwards (63) life long resident of St. Maries, ID died May 31, 2010 at St. Maries. He was born January 19, 1947 to John and Dorothy (Orlikowski) Edwards at Port Angeles, WA In 1957, he moved to the Benewah Valley with his family. He attended St. Mary's Academy before graduating from St. Maries High School with the class of 1965. He attended the Univ. of Idaho for 1 year. He married Gwen McCarter on Aug. 27, 1966 at St. Maries. He enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 1967.He served 4 years TDY for lengths of time to Thailand, Taiwan and other Countries in the 18 months while stationed on Guam He was discharged in 1971 and returned to St. Maries to work with his family in the timber industry at Edwards Mill where he started driving lumber truck when he was 14 years old. He worked as manager of the mill which later became Edwards Forest Industries. Illness with Multiple Sclerosis that he suffered with for 40 years forced his retirement in 1993. He enjoyed hunting and fishing and "The Great Shadowy St. Joe" While camping and with rides later. He was a "History Buff" enjoying any documentation with viewing or talking with family and friends on the subjects for hours. He was an Elder and member of the St. Maries Comm. Presbyterian Church. He was also a member of the Benewah County Sr. Citizens. He was a former member and past president of the St. Maries Kiwanis Club and was very active member of for years. He was past president of the St. Maries J.C.'s and served as chairman of the St. Maries Jr. Miss Pagent the year St. Maries resident Shelly Olson became Idaho's Jr. Miss. He was a Past Chairman and Past Grand Marshall of the Paul Bunyon Days celebration. He is survived by his wife Gwen at the family home. He is also survived by son and daughter-in-law Daniel and Kate Edwards of Sedro Wooley, WA and daughter and son-in-law Lisa and Blu Baray of Kona, Hawaii grandchildren Jordan and Will Edwards of Sedro Wooley, Wa and Jocelyn Baray of Kona, HI and foreign exchange student Tanja Waldeck of Hamburg, Germany. He is also survived by his brother and wife Gary and Vanessa Edwards of St. Maries and sisters and their husbands Linda and Lee St. John of St. Maries and Kathy and Greg Dompier of Spokane, WA Also surviving are his mother –in-law Leona McCarter of St. Maries . Funeral Services will be Friday, June 4, 2010 at 11:00 a.m. at the Comm. Presbyterian Church with Pastor Gary Foster officiating. A gathering of family and friends will follow at the Church. The family suggests memorials to the Carillon Chime Fund at the Comm. Presbyterian Church or a gift of monetary or a basket of food to a person that you know to that needs some help (anonymously). Hodge Funeral Home, St. Maries is entrusted with arrangements. Read Kenneth Edwards's Obituary and Guestbook on www.hodgefuneralhome.com.