John W. Edwards, Jr.

John “Bill” W.  Edwards, Jr, 89, died October 30, 2023 at Pioneer Ridge Assisted Living Facility. He was born November 23, 1933 in Eudora, Kansas to parents John W. Edwards, Sr, and Aleen (Bagby) Edwards.

John attended Eudora schools and graduated from Eudora High School in 1952. He married Beverly Broers in 1954. They celebrated nearly 65 years of marriage prior to Beverly’s passing in 2019. John and Beverly built their first home together in 1964 with the help of their fathers, John Sr and Clarence Broers. They raised two children: Richard (deceased) and Marilyn.

John was a gifted mechanic, inventor, and “fixer” of all things. He volunteered to be a bus driver in high school in exchange for mentoring from the bus mechanics. He loved driving trucks and maintained his CDL license for many years. He worked with his father building houses. He worked at the Eudora CO-OP, Sunflower Army Ammunition Plant, Fairview Feed Company, BF Goodrich Plant, and spent the rest of his career at TRW (Lawrence, Kansas). He was responsible for keeping the mechanical systems running smoothly and described himself as a “self-taught mechanical engineer”.

John’s favorite hobby was fishing. He spent many hours fishing the Kansas River and area lakes with family and friends. He and Beverly enjoyed fishing in Wisconsin with her sister Jeanette and husband Duane, where he loved fishing for walleye and northern.  John also enjoyed cooking, hunting, gardening, mushroom hunting, boating, and getting together with friends for card games. He and Beverly enjoyed dancing, eating out, and their friends.

John is survived by his daughter, Marilyn (Patrick) Parker. He is also survived by his three grandchildren: Jason (Adrienne) Dunavin, Keith Dunavin, and Neil (Alice) Dunavin. He loved his great-grandchildren: Kailey Griese, Ella Dunavin, Alex Dunavin, Lilah Dunavin, Evelyn Dunavin, and Caleb Dunavin.  He is survived by his sisters Carla (Bob) Deay and Denise (Bruce) Roberts, his nieces and nephews, and Beverly’s sisters Jeanette (Duane) Betterman and Margie Coleman.

Of all holidays, John enjoyed most enjoyed family Thanksgiving. He loved Thanksgiving turkey and the traditional dishes. This year, we will raise a toast to Dad and have a turkey leg is his honor.

Burial will be in Eudora Cemetery with private graveside service/celebration of life planned at a later date. Memorials may be sent to Just Food (Lawrence, Ks) or Ascend Hospice in care of Warren McElwain Mortuary. We are deeply grateful to Dr. Schnose and staff, Pioneer Ridge ALF, and Ascend Hospice for their care to John and family.