Elaine Edwards

1934 - 2026

Elaine Ursula Edwards, 91, of Las Cruces, New Mexico, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, at Arbors Memory Care in Las Cruces, just ten days shy of her 92nd birthday.

Elaine was born on March 27, 1934, in St. Helena, California, to Christopher Panagus (Skountges) and Lenore Elvestia Scott. She attended Napa High School and Napa Junior College before marrying Larry W. Waggoner in 1953. Together, they raised five children while Elaine worked full-time in the medical records department at Napa State Hospital.

In 1976, Elaine and her family relocated to Vancouver, Washington, where she worked for the Clark County Clerk's office. The following year, she and Larry purchased the historic Stella Tavern in Longview, Washington. After their divorce, Elaine married Jack Edwards in 1981 and began working for the Washington State Crime Lab. She also became a dedicated volunteer for the Friends of Skamokawa, an organization committed to preserving the history of Skamokawa and its river life.

After Jack's tragic passing in 2002, Elaine moved to Las Cruces, New Mexico. There, she met and married Carl Hansen in 2008. The couple lived in El Paso before returning to Las Cruces last year due to health concerns. Carl passed away in September 2025.

Elaine was predeceased by her two middle children, Bill Waggoner in 1997 and Cathy Johnston in 2017. She is survived by her children Larry Waggoner (Beaverton, OR), Linda (Roger Bell, Jr.) Waggoner (Healdsburg, CA), and Christopher (Liza) Waggoner (Las Cruces, NM). She also leaves behind nine grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, her brother Charles P. Scott (Elaine) of Napa, CA, four stepchildren, and two step-granddaughters.

A celebration of Elaine's life will take place at Redmen Hall in Skamokawa, Washington, on Labor Day, September 7, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. She will be interred with Jack Edwards at Bunker Hill Cemetery in Longview, Washington. Donations in her memory may be made to Friends of Skamokawa at https://friendsofskamokawa.org/donations/auction-donation-form//.