Fred Edwards Jr. was born to Fred Sr. and Leota (Scoopy) Bowers Edwards, near what is now the Star Orchards, between Meridian and Nampa, on January 17, as he liked to say, "The coldest day in 1930, and I haven't warmed up since." When the family moved to Eagle Island, it was a dream come true for Fred, or Bud, as his family called him. Eagle Island was a boy's fishing and duck-hunting paradise. He was able to keep food on the family table, doing what he loved best, and be a serious student as well. He fondly recalled how he and the other Eagle Island kids would catch a ride to the school bus with the prisoners on the Eagle Island prison farm feed wagon, in the mornings. After attending and graduating from Eagle High School in 1948 he went on to attend and graduate from what was then Boise Junior College in 1950. While going to school he worked part-time for the Idaho Fish and Game Dept. as a fish hatchery fish truck driver. Later he attended and graduated from then Northwest Nazarene College. That is where he met Patricia Bohannon. They were married in 1953, and moved to Kimberly, Idaho where he served as the Idaho Fish and Game Dept. game warden in the Jerome district. They lived there for 10 years. He was transferred to Council, Idaho, where he had always wanted to live, in 1963. He served as a game warden in an area covering from Hell's Canyon to Midvale, and to as far northeast as New Meadows, loving every minute. During the time he and Pat lived in Kimberly, they adopted three children: Melody, Wayne and Michael. After they moved to Council, they adopted son Steve, and were blessed with their own daughter, Shelly. Fred enjoyed and supported son Steve's football and basketball and Shelly's basketball games, and loved being around all the kids. Fred retired from the Fish and Game in 1986 and served as a substitute teacher for several years, as well as working as the "Wood Warden" as he called it, for the USFS for several summers. In 2010 he and Pat moved to Nampa, to be closer to their children and grandchildren. While his health supported him, he was involved in the College Church of the Nazarene Grace Notes Choir, because he loved music. He passed away November 19, 2017 holding the hand of his wife, Pat of 64 years. He is survived by his wife Pat; son Steve (Darcy); daughters Melody McCann and Shelly Williams; 15 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his two sons Wayne and Michael. Services will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, November 25 at the Council Community Church, 105 California Ave. in Council, Idaho 83612. Condolences may be expressed at ZeyerFuneralChapel.com. 208-467-7300
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