Edward Andrew Kohler

Edward Andrew Kohler entered this world on November 13, 1932, in Copan, Oklahoma, on the dining room table in the home of his maternal grandmother, Jennie (Huffman) Dunn. He was the only son of Harold and Edra Kohler. Although his sister, Betty Deloris, was 5 years older, she and Eddie were very close.

Eddie was raised and educated in the Bartlesville area, and graduated in 1950 from College High School. He enlisted in the Navy, and served his country as a radio operator aboard a minesweeper during the Korean Conflict. On May 23, 1955, Eddie received an honorable discharge from the Navy, and attended college at Central State College in Edmond, Oklahoma.

He received a degree in business, and shortly thereafter was employed by Phillips Petroleum Company in Bartlesville, Oklahoma. His main duties at Phillips involved gas accounting in the controller's department. Eddie was a loyal employee and worked at Phillips until his early retirement in May of 1988.

How did Eddie and his wife of 36 years, Mary Lou, get together? The story goes that Eddie always said he couldn't understand men that dated women with children. So, when Eddie asked Mary Lou out on a date that same night, she informed him that she couldn't get a baby-sitter on such short notice. Eddie said that it was no problem. They would bring the kids along and go to the drive-in. When Eddie arrived at Mary Lou's house to pick her up for their date, he was met at the door by eight-year-old Terry and seven-year-old Sue in their pajamas with a bag of popcorn and a bottle of pop in their hands. They were so excited about going on a date with Mom. She thought he was due a good surprise because he was so outspoken about women with children.

Eddie not only went through with the date, but, in 1964, married Mary Lou (Crawford) Grayson and became a surrogate father to Terry and Sue. In December of 1964, Mary Lou and Eddie's son, Ron, was born. Although Eddie had very little experience around children, he found himself the father of three children within one year of marriage. All who knew him agree that he did a great job adjusting to instant fatherhood and was a wonderful father to all three children.

Terry and Sue remember fondly how, when Mary Lou worked nights at Phillips, Eddie taught them to play poker and blackjack while dinner was cooking. He taught them to play to win, but to never cheat and to always follow the rules. Eddie was a very honest and moral person, and he made a concerted effort to raise his kids the same way. As the saying goes, "anyone can be a father, but it takes someone special to be a dad." And Eddie was that special someone.

Eddie loved football! His favorite teams were the Dallas Cowboys and the Oklahoma University Sooners. During football season, he always had one game on the television and another on the radio. He encouraged and helped his children participate in sports. His oldest son, Terry, played high school football. After he taught her the killer serve that would become her trademark, his daughter, Sue, made the varsity tennis team in both high school and college. Ron participated in both baseball and football. All three children wielded a mean pool cue thanks to Eddie's tutelage. Eddie was also an avid hunter and fisherman. His sons accompanied him on many hunting trips, and he even took his daughter once, much to the dismay of the boys.

One of Eddies' greatest joys was of owning and raising pigeons and doves, a hobby he had started in childhood. He had every kind of pigeon imaginable: homers, rollers, tumblers, fantails, German Laharas, Hark Angels, and many others. He also conducted various breeding techniques with his doves, which resulted in some pink doves. He would always tell Mary Lou that he was going to build a pigeon pen that would fit on top of the car so he could take his birds with him when they traveled. She always worried that he was serious about that.

In 1987, Eddie was diagnosed with lung cancer. Eddie's lung was removed, and with God's help, his surgeon - Dr. Cy Young, the support of his family, and Eddie's strong determination - those who knew and loved him would call it bull-headedness, he survived. After the removal of his lung, Eddie always said he felt and breathed better when he was near the ocean. Mary Lou shared his love of the ocean, and after several trips there, they had planned to move to South Texas, near the Gulf.

Ed Kohler wasn't a wealthy man by monetary standards, but he was a man of many riches. He had a wife who loved him and was by his side for 36 years. He raised three children who were honest, decent, and hard working. He had two grandson and three granddaughters who he adored, and who adored him. His friends, neighbors, and family could always depend on him to drop what he was doing when someone needed help.

Eddie died peacefully at his home on the night of Thursday, December 7, 2000. As she had been for over 36 years, Mary Lou was by his side.

Family members saying farewell include his wife, Mary Lou; his three children, Terry Grayson of York, Nebraska, Sue Grayson of Bartlesville, Oklahoma, and Ron Kohler of Sachse, Texas; his daughter-in-law, Tonja Kohler; his former daughter-in-law, Linda Grayson; and his grandchildren, Andy, Mike, and Jennifer Grayson, and Macarie and Kassidy Kohler. Also expressing a farewell are his sister and her husband, Betty and Louis Bock of Scarsdale, New York; eight nephews and two nieces; and many, many friends and relatives.

The casket chosen for Eddie's burial was light blue with birds on it. Eddie had the birds he loved so much helping him make his final journey. Funeral services took place at Stumpff Funeral Home on Monday, December 11, 2000, noon, officiated by Reverend Ross Atkins, a longtime friend. He was buried at the Bryan Chapel Cemetery, Boatman, Oklahoma, to the sound of Amazing Grace played by bagpipes.

Eddie will be greatly missed by all those who knew and loved him, but they are comforted in knowing that Eddie is at peace. He has both lungs, and is able to run and play again. He probably also has a full head of hair again. Eddie is surrounded by his birds, he is with his parents and grandparents, and, most importantly, he is more than likely spending his time being an armchair quarterback.

Eddie was a father, grandfather, uncle, brother, brother-in-law, and friend. He touched many lives and many lives touched him. Please sign the guest book and share your special memories of Eddie. If you are so inclined, memorial donations may be sent to the American Cancer Society.

The family was happy to receive notification that the United States Forest Service will plant a tree as a Living Memorial to Eddie. This was accomplished by an agreement between the Stumpff Funeral Director, the Batesville Casket Company, Inc., and the United States Forest Service. Eddie would have been pleased with the thought. As one life ends, a new one begins.