Mel Edwards

1963 - 2015

Mel Edwards, 52, passed away July 26, 2015 in Florence, CO. The son of Ronnie Dean and Betty Louise (Morris) Stone, he was born April 6, 1963 in Bristow, Oklahoma. When Mel was 5 years old his family moved to Wasco, CA. In 1981, he graduated from Wasco High School, where he had participated in football, wrestling, and track. He won State twice in wrestling, and set records in pole vaulting and hurdles. Mel attended one year of Community College before enlisting in the U. S. Army, serving from 1982 - 1986. While stationed at Ft. Carson, he met his wife, Jean Smith and they were married on March 6, 1988 in Bakersfield, CA. In 1993, Mel and Jean moved to Canon City, and then to Florence in 2008. He worked for the Fremont Sanitation District for 10 years, and in 2007 he began selling real estate, working for ReMax, Properties of Colorado, and Keller Williams. He was past President of the Royal Gorge Association of Realtors, a Florence City Councilman; and a CHSAA basketball referee, refereeing high school basketball games. Active with the Recreation District, Mel refereed basketball and adult football. He loved to coach kids. He coached recreational baseball, basketball and football for 18 years. Mel also coached the Young Guns Traveling Baseball Team. Mel was still active in softball; playing pitcher, catcher, and shortstop. He also loved to ice fish in the winter, and jug fishing and lake fishing as well as hunting. He loved the Broncos. Mel is survived by his wife, Jean; children, Samantha (Byron) Edwards of Val Verde, CA, Susan (Matthew) Howard of Frederick MD, and Ronnie Dean Edwards of Colorado Springs; and grandchildren, Nolan Wusstig, Westley Wusstig, and one on the way. He is also survived by his mother, Betty Byars of Bakersfield, CA; sisters, Patty Berry of Marysville, CA, Marcia Shepard of Tallehassee, CO, Karen Edwards of Ohio, and Carol Scroggins of Bakersfield, CA; brother, Rocky Edwards of Wasco, CA; his best friend, Jay LeBlanc; and numerous nieces and nephews. Memorial Service will be at 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, August 5, 2015 at the Evangelical Free Church with Reverend Jim Thulson officiating. The family requests memorial donations be made to the Wounded Warrior Project, National Processing Center, PO Box 758516, Topeka, KS 66675-8516. Arrangements are under the care of Holt Family Funeral Home. Online condolences @ www.holtfamilyfuneral homes.com