Edwina Walters Edwards

Edwina Walters Edwards, age 77, passed away on September 30th in her home in Provo, Utah, after a brave and prolonged battle with chronic health conditions. She is survived by her husband Robert Edwards, her sister Genice Bryant (Bud), her brother A.B. Walters (Liz), her children Jessica (Bryce), Ragan, Aaron (Lacey), Garrett (Ashley), and Matthew (Christine), as well as her 16 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, Edwin and Jeannette Walters, her stepfather Bruce Barrow, her youngest brother Alan Walters, her daughter Andrea Allred, and her grandson Spencer Allred.

Edwina was born on May 10, 1948, in Gilmer, Texas. Most of her childhood was spent in Kelsey, TX, a small area in East Texas settled by Mormon pioneers, surrounded by extended family. She recalled that she frolicked and played outside climbing trees and making mud pies, and in her own words, she and her cousins were often so dirty "that our mothers couldn't tell who was who." Edwina loved school and learning–a trait she maintained throughout her life. As a child she suffered greatly from extended periods of illness due to scarlet fever and a skin disease that required treatments in Dallas. Despite these challenges, she did well in school, attended church, and was a cheerleader and member of the marching band, cultivating loving friendships that lasted her entire life. Even though as an adult she lived for extended periods in Washington, California, and Utah, she always considered herself a Texan through and through, eventually settling in Rockwall, Texas, in her later life.

Edwina went to college at BYU in Provo, UT to study nursing and met Darryl Fry, who she married in 1968. They had six children and were married for over thirty years before eventually divorcing. The majority of their lives were spent in the south bay area in California, where Darryl worked in mortgage banking and Edwina focused on her home and children. After the divorce and a series of difficult health challenges, Edwina finally met her soulmate and love of her life, Robert Edwards. They were sealed for time and all eternity in the Provo Temple on September 4, 2010. Edwina continually expressed her love and appreciation for Robert, in between threats of "whoopings," of course (Robert wouldn't have it any other way).

Edwina believed in the value of education and continually sought to improve herself through grit and determination. After graduating from BYU as a nurse and working at hospitals before she had children, she returned to school to earn her Bachelor's of Nursing in Public Health from California State Dominguez Hills in 1992. She followed that up with a Master's degree in Psychiatric Nursing from the University of Utah in 1996. She worked as a registered nurse in Utah and California, at the State Hospital in Utah, and as a university instructor at both University of Utah and Brigham Young University. As a psychiatric nurse, she also worked as a therapist and supervised grief groups. Her academic record was excellent and she was a member of Sigma Theta Tau, the international honor society for Nursing.

Edwina was a loving and supportive mother who always believed in the potential of her children–even homeschooling them for years when she felt the schools fell short. She gave them many opportunities to explore their talents and to be as successful as they could be. She taught them to love the gospel of Jesus Christ and cherished her testimony, leading by patience and example. She was known for her wit and sense of humor, even through the end of her life. She was greatly loved and will be sorely missed. Edwina's family extends their gratitude to the health care workers who diligently took care of her in her final days and to Robert, for continually being at her side, no matter what.

Pending Funeral services will be held with a memorial service and interment at the Kelsey Cemetery in Texas in the near future.