Spencer Turner

Happy Birthday today to Spencer D. Turner who was my Great Great Great Great Grandfather on my mother's side. He was born May 22, 1816 in Clark, Ohio.

Spencer died April 26, 1896 at Wapella, Illinois at the age of 79. He was married to Nancy Hoblit on April 14, 1836 at McLean, Illinois.

They had 12 children, 7 girls and 5 boys. Their oldest was a daughter, Margaret Jane.

Margaret Jane was my Great Great Grandmother. Margaret and her husband moved to Kansas in 1880 and lived at Bernard, Kansas. I have photos of Margaret and her husband Asa Harrison Murphy.

Margaret and Asa's Daughter, Nancy Ellen married Thomas Burr Williams and their daughter Della Elnora was my Great Grandmother.

Edna Estella Maxwell Edwards

Aunt Edna, who passed away just 10 months ago at age 97 was born today in 1910. She was quite a lady and very much admired. Edna was my grandfather Karl Edwards brother Thornton's wife.

Edna brought PEO into our family. She proposed my grandmother's name for membership 51 years ago. Today my mother, aunt, sister, cousin and I are all members.

When I was in high school Edna and her husband spent the summers working in Yellowstone at one of the stores. They asked if I'd be interested in going along and working there too and I declined. I've always kind of regretted that.

Here's to you Aunt Edna!

Obituary:

Edna Estella Edwards, age 97, of Manhattan, died Tuesday, July 24, 2007 at Meadowlark Hills-Lyle House in Manhattan.

She was born on May 15, 1910, in Clay Center, Kansas, the daughter of James H. and Jesse I. (Spence) Maxwell.

Mrs. Edwards had been a Manhattan resident since 1922 and was a 1928 graduate of Manhattan High School. Following high school she went on to attend college at Kansas State, in what was then the department of Home Economics, earning her degree in 1932.

Mrs. Edwards was a school teacher for many years and had taught for 9 years in Alta Vista and Chapman grade schools. Later she was a substitute teacher for several years for the Manhattan school district.

She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church and for many years sang in the church choir. Other memberships include Chapter DE of PEO, La Sertoma Club, and the Zeta Tau Alpha Sorority.

On June 7, 1941, in Manhattan, Kansas, she was united in marriage to A. Thorton Edwards. Following her husband’s retirement in 1973, they worked for 16 summers at Canyon Villiage in Yellowstone National Park. Mr. Edwards proceeded her in death on December 24, 2001. She was also proceeded in death by one brother: William Maxwell and one sister: Frances Cilek.

She is survived by two daughters: Annette Kay Huff and her husband Steven of Omaha, Nebraska and Bette Lu Rogers of Queen Creek, Arizona. Also surviving are five grandchildren: Sevrin Huff Praeger, Andrew Huff, Stefanie Huff, Tana Schlund and Amy Hatcher, and eight great grandchildren: Jakson Praeger and Ava Praeger, Cassidy Huff, Samuel Huff, Abigail Huff, Mason Rama-Schlund, Emma Schlund, Esme Hatcher.