Edith Louise Benton

Edith Louise Benton 67, of St. James, Missouri passed away at the Phelps Health Hospital on Saturday, December 23, 2023 peacefully, surrounded by her family after a courageous battle with cancer. Edith was born on January 6, 1956 in Omaha, Nebraska to the late Vernie SR, and Edith (Childers) Pauley.
Edith married and had two girls; In her thirties she decided to go back to school and get her GED, after that was accomplished, she went on to fulfill her lifelong career goal of becoming a surgical technician. Edith went to work at the Rolla Hospital, and really loved her job. Edith loved the outdoors, camping, fishing, and in her younger years she played softball. She was especially close to her children and grandchildren, anytime she could get the family over for a day of fun she enjoyed dearly. Edith loved Christmas, especially with her kids and grandkids. She was a loving and devoted mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend, and will be greatly missed by those that knew and loved her.
Edith is survived by her daughters, Samatha Foston, of Rolla, MO, and Billi Jo Bailey, of Rolla, MO; step-daughter, Hazel Renee Benton; sisters, Sally Pauley, of Rolla, MO, Sandy Pauley, of St. James, MO, Vickie Pedro, and husband Angus, of St. James, MO, and Pamela Rhoads and husband Guy, of Columbia, MO; brothers, Vernie Pauley JR. (Paul Vincent), and Charles Pauley and Rhonda of Newburg, MO; grandchildren, Micheal Duckworth, Sierra Williams, DeSean Pauley, Zoey Bailey, and Olivia Foston. great- grandchildren, Caydence Cooper, and Blake Pauley; a host of nieces, nephews, extended family and friends. In addition to her parents Vernie and Edith Pauley, Edith was preceded in death by her husband Eugene Benton, her children's father, Michael Duckworth, and nephew, Stephen P. Bullock Jr.
Funeral services for Edith Benton will be held at 1:00 PM on Tuesday, January 2, 2024 at the St. James Chapel of the James & Gahr Mortuary with Pastor Brad Dimock officiating. A visitation for family and friends will be held at the Chapel prior to the service on Tuesday from 11-service time at 1PM. For online condolences please visit www.jamesgahrmortuary.com