Joseph Lyman Edgar

Joseph Lyman Edgar was born June 2, 1944, in Rocky Ford to Lyman and Alice Jane (Canterbury) Edgar. At the age of nine, two years after he was stricken by polio, Joe told his parents that he had decided “Whatever I am going to do with my life, I can’t do with my body so I will do with my mind. I am going to be Valedictorian,” That determination, strength and intellectual ability would define Joe’s life.

When he graduated from Rocky Ford High School with the class of 1962, he was valedictorian of his class. He was a band member (first chair trumpet), belonged to numerous clubs, DeMolay and was a top 4-H member. He was selected to attend the 4-H Citizenship Short Course and National Congress in Washington DC. While there he was determined to go to the top of the Washington Monument, but he wasn’t going riding the elevator – he insisted on climbing the 898 steps to the top and back down on his crutches.

He attended Colorado State University where he graduated Cum Laude in 1966 with a B.S. in Social Sciences and a teacher certification in secondary education. During his time at CSU, he was active in student body governance and Farmhouse Fraternity. Fraternity brothers remembered Joe as someone who would study into the night and then catch brothers coming in late from a night on the town, insisting they play a game of chess.

Following his undergraduate work, he taught 7-8 grade math in Eagle Lake, Texas for one year before entering the University of Houston Law School graduating in 1971. He took the Texas and Colorado Bar Exams, passing both on his first try. He was admitted to practice law in Colorado and Texas state courts, federal courts, and the United States Supreme Court.

From 1972 until his retirement in 2014, Joe was an attorney for real estate title insurance companies, rising to regional council. He often was called upon to testify in court or provide training or litigation support to other attorneys. He had an amazing ability for almost total recall of the law, cases he had worked on, and legal precedence.

Joe was a great brother and uncle. He would play softball with his younger sisters and nephews, hitting the ball with his crutch and having one of the kids run the bases for him. He loved to travel, always bringing mementos back to his grandparents, parents, sisters, nieces and nephews. He shared his love for travel and learning by taking each of his younger sisters on a trip for their high school graduation. A special focus of his travels was his family heritage and genealogy, including traveling several times to Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia for their Celtic Festival.

The extended family remembers Joe as the cousin who always stayed in contact with everyone, even those scattered around the United States. He called and visited, often attending weddings, graduations, birthdays and anniversary celebrations regardless of where they were held in the country.

Joe is survived by his sisters Carolyn Ridennoure Smith, Marilyn (Tom) Hagans and Rebecca (Keith) Goodwin; nephews Jay Ridenour, Cody (Tammy) Ridennoure and Tony (Alison) Hagans and family; great nephew Colby (Sandy) Ridennoure and family, and great niece Kelsey (Jess) Price and family; and many close cousins. He was preceded by his parents, grandparents Roy and Lena Edgar and Homer and Irene Canterbury, and his special friend Bonnie Hefestay.

Memorials may be made to the Otero County 4-H Foundation -Joseph Edgar Memorial, P.O. Box 190, Rocky Ford, CO 81067 or Shriners Children’s Hospital, Attn: Office of Development, 2900 Rocky Point Dr., Tampa, FL 33607.