Jane M. Canady Edgington

Jane M. Canady Edgington

Des Moines

Jane Margaret Truesdell Palmer Canady Edgington, 100, of Des Moines, Iowa, died peacefully in her sleep on Tuesday, August 23, 2011, after a short hospital illness. She is now in the presence of her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. A celebration of Jane's life will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, August 27, at Iles Funeral Homes, Westover Chapel, Des Moines. Burial will follow at Resthaven Cemetery, 801 19th Street, West Des Moines.

Jane was born April 29, 1911, in Plattsmouth, Neb., the daughter of Frederick and Ethel (Dovey) Truesdell. After her parents divorced when she was six years old, she was adopted by her stepfather Willis M. Palmer of Des Moines. She attended Greenwood Elementary School and after her mother died when she was 10, she attended St. Catherine's Episcopal School in Davenport, Iowa. She graduated from Theodore Roosevelt High School in Des Moines and Drake University, majoring in music and journalism. She taught journalism and English at Huxley High School and later was the Society Editor for The Des Moines Register and Tribune for 22 years until her retirement in 1981. Since then, she has enjoyed her retirement involved with family and friends.

She married Earl L. Canady on September 19, 1936, and they became the parents of five children. Earl died in 1974 and Jane later married Warren G. Edgington in 1981. Warren passed away in 1991.

Jane lived a full and amazing life. She excelled in music, having been the lead in high school musicals, and she directed and sang in choirs in the music ministries of several area churches throughout her lifetime. She was a stickler for good grammar, and she taught her children and grandchildren the nuances of the English language, also enjoying reading, crosswords and word jumbles. Jane was an accomplished seamstress and knitter, creating many beautiful Afghans for family and friends. Jane was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma, serving as a national officer; P.E.O. Chapter KN; PTA for the Des Moines Public Schools; The Mother Singers and Sweet Adelines; and several Drake University committees. Jane was named as an Iowa Journalist in 1999 by the University of Iowa in the Iowa Journalists Oral Histories program. She always put her family first and enjoyed spending as much time as possible with them. Jane's humor, intellect and generosity will be missed by all who loved and cherished her.

Jane is survived by her children, Betty Ann (William) Rabe of Apple Valley, Minn.; Terry (Joyce) Canady of Emigrant, Mont.; Michael (Ann) Canady of Des Moines; Mary Laughlin of Des Moines; and Robert Canady of Windsor Heights. She also is survived by 14 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins. She was preceded in death by her parents, stepfather, husbands, younger sister Betty Ann Coolidge, half-sister Colette Synnott, half-brother Francois Truesdell, and grandson Jonathan Rabe.

Family will greet friends and family from 5 to 8 p.m., Friday, August 26, at the funeral home.

Memorials may be directed in Jane Edgington's name to Calvin Community, 4210 Hickman Road, Des Moines, Iowa, 50310.