Edna Ivans

Edna Logan Ivans, long time Avenal businesswoman and advocate for education, passed away in Fresno, CA on Tuesday, December 31, 2024. Edna was born on January 10, 1928 at home, near Westphalia, Falls County, Texas, to Ollie and Sallie Kate (Jones) Logan. She was the oldest of three children. When she was nine years old, she and her family moved from the family farm in Texas to a grape vineyard in Delano, CA.
Edna was an avid reader and strong student, and at the suggestion of a teacher, went to the University of Southern California for college. She graduated from the USC School of Pharmacy, and met her husband, and fellow pharmacy graduate, Nicholas Ivans. She and Nick married on June 5, 1949, bought Tomer Drug, and settled in Avenal in 1950, where they were active in the community for decades. They raised four children, Ivan, India, Shannon, and Fawn. Their early years of family life were met with a significant challenge when Nick had polio in 1954. With three young children by then, Edna ran the pharmacy by herself for a year. Nick eventually recovered and adjusted to using Canadian crutches, and they carried on. In addition to the four children of their own, they made room in their home and hearts for more children, taking in five foster children over the years. In addition to a commitment to children in foster care, Nick and Edna opened their home to foreign students. After housing students from Finland, Iran, and Mexico, each for a year, they answered the call to help those evacuated from Vietnam after its fall. Two teenage girls became a part of their family and remained in Avenal until they graduated from high school.
Edna was perhaps best known in the community for serving on the West Hills Community College Board of Trustees for 48 years. Over her tenure she spearheaded and encouraged countless projects that helped to mold the West Hills Community College District. She was a fierce advocate for student success and a passionate supporter of higher education. In recognition of her incredible service, she was honored to be named a Trustee Emeritus in 2020, the first to receive this distinction in the history of the district. While she received many accolades for her service, her dedication to the work came from a strong desire to help students succeed. At her retirement from the board in 2015, she said "I believe that we should all be willing to give something of ourselves and use our talents to achieve goals that will benefit the world around us." This exemplifies her approach to life and service.
Through the years Edna was also active in her church community, the Community Presbyterian Church, and,after its closing, the Avenal First Baptist Church. She wrote the weekly newsletter for decades. Beyond the church, Nick and Edna loved the Avenal community and participated in countless events over the years. She and Nick traveled extensively with their children and later their grandchildren, including all 50 states. She attended many musicals over the decades (most at Roger Rocka's!) with friends and her children and grandchildren. She was also a prolific letter writer, maintaining correspondence with family and friends near and far.
After living an independent and active life up to age 90, Edna suffered a stroke following a scheduled surgery in 2018. Since then, she lived at the Terraces at San Joaquin Gardens in Fresno. While the stroke affected her mobility and speech, she made significant progress in therapy and rehab. Her approach to her recovery showed us all again her strong work ethic and resilience. She maintained her intellect, care for others, genuine smile, and sense of humor throughout. The family is grateful to the staff at the Terraces and United Therapy providers for the excellent care she received.
Edna was preceded in death by her husband of 65 years Nicholas Ivans, her parents, her foster son, Jerry Keeler, her niece Kim Barton, and her nephew Jeff Logan. She leaves her siblings, Alma Kathryn Barton, and George Gene Logan (Carlene); a son, Ivan N. Dana and his partner Barbara Stein of San Francisco, CA; daughters, India Ivans and her husband John Sorensen of Fresno, Shannon DeFranco and her husband Dan of Wellington, NV, and Fawn Altimus of Irvington, NY. Additionally, daughter-in-law, Linda (Keeler) Burgin; Iranian son, Reza Banai, his wife Mitra of Toronto, and his family; Vietnamese daughters, Carol Huong Vu, her husband Harold Nguyen of Santa Clara, and their daughters, Tina Nga Vu and her sons, of Santa Clara, and Finnish daughter, Marja Heikinheimo Pekkala, and her family. Edna leaves six dearly loved granddaughters, and 11 adored great grandchildren. Shaine Nichole DeFranco, of of Wellington, NV, Edna Marie (DeFranco) Stucker and her husband Mike, and their daughters, Macie, Hayden and Whitney, of Turlock, Darci Mari (DeFranco) Viss, her husband Elan, and daughter Dottie, of Turlock, Danielle Michelle (DeFranco) Parks, her husband Dennis, and their children Eleanor, Alfred, and Poppy, of Wellington, NV, Christine Altimus Williams, her husband Ryan, and their boys Logan and Max, of Ardmore, PA, and Barbara Shreero Altimus, her husband Ryan, and their children Rosalie and Teddy, of Irvington, NY. Edna leaves behind many nieces, nephews and their families. Lawrence Barton, Tom (Alice) Barton, Laurel (Mark) Britton, Jon (Carole) Logan, Derek (Tara) Logan, Deborah (Pat) Logan Arndt, Peter Ivancovich, Phillip (Julie) Ivancovich, Janet (Greg) Flowers, and Laurel (Scott) Taylor. She also leaves behind many dear friends.
Services will be private. Remembrances may be made in her name to the Avenal First Baptist Church, P.O. Box 326, Avenal, CA 93204; the Nicholas and Edna Ivans Scholarship, West Hills College Foundation, 9900 Cody Street, Coalinga, CA 93210; or to your favorite charity. Arrangements are under the direction of Phipps-Dale Funeral Chapel in Lemoore.